India, Thai navies carry out coordinated patrol

New Delhi: Aiming to counter piracy and arms smuggling, the navies of India and Thailand carried out a coordinated patrol in the Andaman sea.

"The Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy conducted Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) in the Andaman Sea from November 13 to 18 to counter piracy, poaching and arms smuggling," a release from the Indian embassy in Thailand said. At the exercise, the Indian Navy was represented by INS BITRA while HTMS SRIRACHA represented the Royal Thai Navy. One Dornier Aircraft each of the two sides also participated in the joint exercise, it said. During the CORPAT, the participating forces of two navies carried out a number of joint exercises and exchanges to enhance inter-operability. The first CORPAT between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was held in 2005. The subsequent series of Coordinated Patrols have enhanced mutual confidence levels between the two Navies and have contributed to the effective implementation of the Law of the Sea to prevent illegal activities.