Kochi: Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba on Monday took over charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command from Vice Admiral SPS Cheema at an impressive ceremonial parade held at the Naval base here on Monday.
The parade was followed by the traditional 'pulling out' ceremony in which the outgoing Commander-in-Chief was ceremonially pulled out in a jeep by Flag Officers and Commanding Officers of Ships and Naval establishments of Kochi, a Navy release said.
Earlier in the day, Vice Admiral Lanba laid a wreath at the War Memorial, prior to assuming command.
The Flag Officer, a native of Palwal in Haryana, who was the Vice Chief of Naval Staff prior to taking over as the FOC-in-C (South), had arrived in Kochi on Saturday.
In his farewell address Vice Admiral Cheema praised every member of the Southern Naval Command for their all round contribution.
Vice Admiral Cheema will now assume the charge of the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command tomorrow on the retirement of the present incumbent, Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chopra.
