INS Makar J 33 21 Sep 2012

                                     INS Makar J 33 21 Sep 2012

                                                       

INS Makar was commissioned into Navy on January 31, 1984. The ship was initially inducted as a minor survey vessel. She did numerous surveys for the Navy and the Hydrographic Department of India till 1993. Following Navy's decision to increase its presence in the Palk Bay following LTTE activities off Tamil Nadu coast, the role of INS Makars was changed from surveying to local defence and its base port shifted from Kochi to Chennai. Under the changed role, the ship was deployed for the first time in the Palk Bay on January 2, 1994 and, thereafter, she was involved in innumerable exercises and operations.

The ship had 40/60-mm Bofors as her main gun besides a number of small weapons. She had three officers and 35 sailors.

INS Makar was decommissioned at a solemn ceremony at Chennai port. The ship's flag was lowered at sunset as the buglers sounded the last post marking the end of its 21-year glorious service to the country. Cmde AT Lucose, commanding officer, INS Venduruthy, a naval training establishment at Kochi, was the chief guest. He was once the commanding officer of INS Makar. Cmde T Hari, Naval Officer in-Charge, Tamil Nadu was also present on the occasion. This was the first time that the decommissioning of a naval ship took place in Chennai.