Indian Navy News – The Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer, INS Kochi, arrived in Male, Maldives, on April 28, 2025, to hand over the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) Coast Guard Ship Huravee, which completed a Normal Refit at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai between December 2024 and April 2025.
The handover ceremony took place at the MNDF Coast Guard Jetty, where Shri G. Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to the Maldives, formally presented the MNDF CGS Huravee to Maj Gen Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of Defence Force, MNDF. The event underscored the robust maritime partnership between India and the Maldives, reflecting the Indian Navy’s dedication to regional security, peace, and freedom of navigation.
INS Kochi received a warm welcome from Maldivian authorities, highlighting the strong bilateral ties. During the visit, Capt Mahesh C Moudgil, Commanding Officer of INS Kochi, met with Maj Gen Ibrahim Hilmy and Brig Gen Mohammed Saleem, Commandant of the MNDF Coast Guard, to discuss further collaboration.
The ship’s stay in Male includes planned activities such as bilateral meetings, cross-deck visits, and sports events between the Indian Navy and the MNDF, fostering camaraderie and cooperation.
Commissioned on September 30, 2015, INS Kochi is a key asset of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, operating under the Western Naval Command in Mumbai.
