SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win attends ceremony to commission warships to mark the 76th Anniversary of Tatmadaw (Navy)
Nay Pyi Taw December 24
With the aim of fully protecting the maritime interest of the State and exclusive economic zone of Myanmar, the commissioning of warships and transfer of combat vessels to Myanmar Coast Guard was held at the 76th Anniversary of Tatmadaw (Navy) of Republic of Union of Myanmar at the No 3 naval jetty in Yangon this afternoon. On behalf of the Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services,SAC Vice Chairman DeputyCommander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commanderin-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered an address.
Also present were Daw Than Than Nwe, wife of the Vice-Senior General, Union Ministerfor Defence Admiral Tin AungSan and wife, union ministers,Commander-in-Chief (Navy)Admiral Moe Aung and wife,senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chiefand wives, the Yangon Region chief minister, the Yangon Command commander, the Yangon mayor, naval base commanders, officers and other ranks of Tatmadaw (Navy).
According to the agenda Chief of Staff (Navy) Vice-Admiral Zwe Win Myint explained the salient points of naval vessels to be commissioned. Commandant of Naval Shipyards presented papers related to the commissioned ships to the tactical flotilla commander, and the Ayeyawady Naval Base Commander, papers related to the transferred ships to Myanmar Coast Guard director general.
The Vice-Senior General said at the today’s ceremony, two 33- metre long coastal guard ships, the 7th and 8th 27-metre Super Dvora fast patrol boats erected Tatmadaw (Navy) by accepting technology from abroad, and one river patrol boat were put into service for Tatmadaw (Navy) and one offshore patrol boat and two coastal combat vessels were transferred to the coastguard as the reinforcements for the two.
Of the phase-by-phase naval built-up program, the first phase of turning Tatmadaw (Navy) into a Three Dimensional Combat Ready Navy that can fully protect the exclusive economic zone has already been realized. The second phase is to turn it into an Adjacent Force Projection Navy/Regional Navy that can station its ships in Myanmar seas of the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas. The Navy needs powerful ships that can stay at sea for a longer time to realize this stage. Hence, the nation will continue its program of building ships. Based on the development in our maritime interest, the country will realize the third phase – Blue Water Navy Ambition – to send ships to the blue seas where national interest lies. In order to realize all the phases, the Navy needs powerful naval ships as well as skilled personnel to handle and operate them well. Hence, it also needs a constant training program for its members.
Quality of the ships built by the Navy is improving alongside its increase in naval ship building experiences. Continuous efforts are required to improve the capability of every naval ship in building powerful war ships. Here, all the officials and other ranks who are taking the shipbuilding responsibilities are honoured.
Applying current experience and competent shipbuilding capabilities, modern, powerful and highly capable warships must be built in future dockyards by combining future shipbuilding capabilities. In addition to powerful warships, Not only naval power but also national maritime power can enhance by building civilian cargo ships and tankers.
After devastating Cyclone Mocha made landfall inland through Sittwe on 14 May this year, foodstuffs and relief items were transported by warships from the Tatmadaw (Navy) immediately. It was also found that more than 9,000 tons of goods were transported by 49 warships from Yangon to Sittwe during the rehabilitation period after the storm. It can be proved that such humanitarian operations could be carried out effectively by the navy.
As the Senior General Prime Minister had authorities carry out rehabilitation tasks during the rehabilitation period out of goodwill in accordance with the saying, "Whoever breaches norms, one must keep one's own principle," 99 percent of the tasks have been completed. As terrorists have been resumings sabotage since that very moment, lives and property of the people in Rakhine State were destroyed and stability of the state has been disrupted. We are proud that under the current political circumstance, officers and other ranks of the Tatmadaw (Navy) have been carrying out counter-insurgency operations in cooperation the Tatmadaw (Army) and the Tatmadaw (Air) for the perpetuation of the sovereignty of the state and protection of lives and property of the people.
As the sea shapes the future interests of the country, it is the main responsibility of the Tatmadaw (Navy) to safeguard the sea. The Tatmadaw (Navy), which has played a major role in safeguarding Myanmar maritime security in successive eras, is celebrating its 76th anniversary today. Thanks to the efforts of helmsmen and comrades who served in the Tatmadaw (Navy) throughout its history, it has become a powerful and capable navy, which can be relied on by the country, the Tatmadaw and the people.
On this occasion, serving officers and other ranks, who have a chance to participate in the 76th anniversary of the Tatmadaw (Navy) are urged to exert utmost efforts to preserve the fine historical traditions proudly.
Then, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) presented scaledown replicas of warships commissioned at the ceremony to the Vice-Senior General. Then, the Vice-Senior General presented an honorary flower basket and cash rewards sent by the Senior General to officers and other ranks who built the warships to responsible officers.
Afterward, the Commanderin-Chief (Navy) carried out the commissioning process such as announcing the newly commissioned warships, raising the Navy Flag and the commissioning flag and ringing the bell eight times in its proper order.
Then, the Vice-Senior General and party inspected newly commissioned warships including two 33-metre long coastguard ships, two 27-metre long coastguard boats and a patrol board along rivers and vessels transferred to the Myanmar Coast Guard while responsible officers explained salient points about them.
Afterwards, the Vice-Senior General and party posed for documentary photographs with guests.