By IANS
Kochi : Three warships of the German Navy arrived here Saturday for a four-day stay during which the crew will visit training schools at the Kochi naval base.
The crew will also participate in sports matches with the Indian Navy personnel.
The fleet comprises FGS Hamburg, FGS Koeln and FGS Berlin with Captain Michael Budde as the Commander.
FGS Hamburg, with Lt Cdr Helge Risch as Captain, is an air defence ship. It is 470 feet in length and has a crew of 242 while FGS Koeln, under Lt Cdr Uwe MaaB, is a frigate. It is 426 feet in length and has 208 personnel.
FGS Berlin, a replenishment tanker, is 528 feet long manned by a crew of 207 and commanded by Lt Cdr Hans-Gunther Struck.
Bernd Mützelburg, Ambassador of Germany, and Rear Admiral Karl W. Bollow, Flotilla Commander, will visit the visit the ships and meet the crew during their stay here.
Senior German Navy officers will meet the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. Interaction between personnel of the two navies and visit by Indian Navy officers to these ships has been scheduled.