US Coast Guard ‘Cutter Rush’ renamed as ‘BNS Somudra Avijan’ was officially handed over to the Bangladesh Navy on Wednesday (May 6, 2015) in a ceremony held at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, USA.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat handed over the ship to Vice Admiral M Farid Habib, NBP, ndc, psc, Chief of Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy.
Under command of Captain Waseem Maqsood, (G), psc BNS Somudra Avijan will depart for Bangladesh to join 9th Frigate Squadron of the Navy later this year.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Mohammad Ziauddin, Defense Attache Brig Gen Md Shamsuzzaman, Pacific Area Commander (Desig), senior military officials and expatriate Bangladeshis attended the ceremony.
As the second ship of this type being transferred to the Bangladesh Navy, BNS Somudra Avijan is designed to provide better sea keeping, greater endurance and range, higher sustained transit speed as well as a flight deck for helicopters and aviation support facilities.
Bangladesh military officials here said inclusion of BNS Somudra Avijan in the Bangladesh Navy will have significant impact to pursue her three dimensional roles in the maritime arena.
The first US Coast Guard ‘Cutter Jarvis’ was transferred to the Bangladesh Navy after renaming it as ‘BNS Somudro Joy’ on May 24, 2013. –News & Photo: PID