INS Saryu; A Sailor’s Life At Sea
What is life like for sailors on board an Indian Naval Ship in the Andaman and Nicobar Command’s (ANC) Area of Responsibility (AoR)? Well, we sailed for nine days on INS Saryu to find out. Watch an extraordinary journey aboard one of the Navy’s offshore patrol vessels. In the ‘Arc Of Power’, Episode VI, we continue to showcase the strategic importance of the ANC in safeguarding India’s maritime interests.
INS Saryu: Indigenous Nature & Role
INS Saryu represents, among other things, India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding, design and construction. We also witness firing of the ship’s arsenal at sea. The documentary captures the maritime ballet of seamanship that positions the vessel for strategic operations across the oceans. We also capture the sailors who utilise the multi-role platform in anti-piracy operations, fleet support, and naval gunfire support during amphibious assaults.
China’s PLA & India’s ANC
The documentary positions INS Saryu within the broader context of the significance of the ANC. And highlights the vessel’s operations through the Six and Ten-Degree channels where over 60,000 commercial vessels pass annually. This strategic positioning is critical, particularly in light of the Chinese PLA Navy’s breakneck expansion. For India, the ANC is not just a forward outpost. It’s the frontline of maritime vigilance and deterrence against Chinese warships, submarines and spy ships in and around the chokepoints of Southeast Asia. The waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are part of a strategic contest, one that will define the future of the region. The strategic significance is also highlighted by India pushing for inclusion in the Malacca Straits Patrol in the future.
Saryu’s Sailors At Sea
The documentary captures the human element of naval operations on the “Most Spirited Ship” of 2024. The ship’s galley operations, recreational activities on the helo deck, and the camaraderie among crew members from across India provide compelling human interest content. The wardroom dining scenes and bada khaana (open night) showcase naval traditions. And not to forget, we capture rare footage of Barren Island, India’s only active volcano.
Series In 4K
Watch this series in 4K. Click the gear icon in YouTube’s settings and choose 2160p/4K, if your device is compatible. We recommend big screen viewing for the best experience.
Editor’s Note: Cdr Nilesh Athare has been promoted to a Captain and has taken up a new assignment.
‘Arc Of Power’ Series
A StratNews Global team of Amitabh P. Revi, Rohit Pandita and Vashisht Mattoo document this series. Deepankar Verma provides all the informational graphics. We boarded the INS Saryu in Sri Vijaya Puram (SVP), the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). SVP was known as Port Blair till September 2024. In case you missed:
👉Andaman & Nicobar Command. ‘Arc Of Power’ Episode I</em> | Rutland Beach Joint Service Amphibious Assault : • https://youtu.be/HfHBl1–kiA?si=gsvKVoYK458hrQF8
👉INS Kohassa: Eyes In The Sky, Punch In The Sea, Khukris On The Beach— ANC | Arc Of Power, Episode II: • https://youtu.be/ek2whgojVVw?si=hM70oqJ-utMgZ-e4
👉Andaman Nicobar Command: India’s Strategic Outpost | C-in-C, Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan Exclusive | Ep. III: • https://youtu.be/FXPwGHmudyo?si=USjqc4qirkk4uQKu
👉Tarasa, Tiger & Tamannaah—Andaman & Nicobar Command, Arc Of Power Part IV: Outpost To Springboard: • https://youtu.be/QeSKiru0O7Y?si=r7LFzIrHLsyQJ6gd
👉Andaman & Nicobar Command: In Conversation With The Commanding Officer INS Saryu | Arc of Power Ep V: https://youtu.be/wBQ_nSXbomo?si=xCNZJZCHYN5RbSYa
The 'Eye' of the story not the 'I' of the story. That's Amitabh Pashupati Revi's credo from the beginning of his professional journey in 1995. From conflicts in the war zones of Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq to nuances of international politics in the Maldives,Thailand, and South Sudan, Amitabh has reported from all the world's continents, except for Antarctica(so far). Though, he has documented the world's third pole, the Siachen Glacier!
Amitabh reports and produces documentaries on the two-front China-Pakistan threat to India. His ground reports from Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh have received viewership in the hundreds of thousands. Amitabh has interviewed world leaders, top global analysts, and experts in India, Russia, the United States, and Australia as well. Along the way, he’s picked up the Russian language, the Ramnath Goenka Award for his reporting on the 'Islamic State' terrorist group in Iraq, the Khaled Alkhateb Award for his reporting from Palmyra, Syria, and the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Distinguished Journalist Fellowship. Last but not least, as a founder member of StratNews Global, Amitabh helps lead the reporting, editorial, production, and administration teams at StratNews Global, BharatShakti, and InterStellar on their journey ahead.
