Report and Pics from Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (RD/SP)

Mumbai, Sep 24: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Bedi, the third ship of the 19 Mine Counter Measure Squadron based in the metro, was de-commissioned on Tuesday September 22, at the naval dockyard, here.

INS Bedi, which derives her name from the port of Bedi in Jamnagar district of Gujarat, was acquired from the erstwhile Soviet Union and commissioned at  Riga, USSR on April 27, 1979 by I K Gujral, the then ambassador of India to USSR, with lieutenant commander S N Chopra as her first Captain.

With her motto as ‘Lead to Protect’, INS Bedi, led by a breed of excellent sea-faring men, was entrusted with the daunting task of going into ‘harm’s way’ to clear the channel off mines, thus making way for the formidable warships of the navy to pass safely. The ship has also carried out assistance during natural calamities and has taken part in numerous operations, conducted by the navy under the command of as many as 25 commanding officers

Rear admiral Sunil Lanba, flag officer-commanding, Maharashtra and Gujarat Area (FOMAG), was the chief guest and presided over the de-commissioning ceremony. The ceremony commenced with an impressive guard of honour and ended with the hauling down of the naval ensign for the last time at sunset, along with the lowering of the ‘Decommissioning Pennant’. 

INS Bedi has been flying the naval ensign with great pride and honour, during her illustrious carrier spanning over 30 years of since being commissioned.  A number of officers and sailors, who had served on board the ship, were present at the venue, to bid a fond farewell to this very fine ship.