German Frigate 'Bremen' will arrive in Mumbai on a 4-day visit from 16th-20th August, 2012. The visit is an integral part of the “German Year in India” and symbolizes the excellent bilateral relations between our two countries. The visit of the 'Bremen' is happening on the heels of the talks held by the German Naval Chief of Staff in India back in February.

Already in May, the Indian Navy had dispatched its Frigate INS 'Teg' to Hamburg, Europe’s second-biggest port, on the occasion of the city’s famous “Harbour Anniversary”. Its three-day-visit kick-started the year-long festivities of the “India Days in Germany” in the presence of Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. 

On the occasion of the visit of the “Bremen” in Mumbai, Acting Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt stated: “I am delighted that we can celebrate “Germany and India 2011-2012– infinite opportunities” with such a symbolic highlight in India’s most important harbour. India and Germany are strategic partners and the sky is the limit when it comes to deepening our friendship and broadening our cooperation.”

Frigate 'Bremen' was built at the Vulkan shipyard in Bremen/Germany and commissioned into service in 1982. It is a multi-purpose combat vessel with anti-submarine warfare and large capacities in anti-aircraft warfare. The ship carries 2 helicopters on-board. The ship is 130.5 m in length, travels at a speed of 30 knots (56 km/hr) and has 200 crew members.

During the Second Gulf War in 1991, it took part in surveillance duties in the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2009, it is part of the European Union Naval Force’s “Operation Atalanta” in Somalia, a military operation launched to protect vessels delivering humanitarian aid to the Somalian population and to prevent and combat acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia.

This is the first visit of a German vessel in 4 years, the last being from 5th-8th April, 2008 in Kochi. The official programme for the visit includes a dinner hosted by Mr. Cord Meier-Klodt, Deputy Chief of Mission, German Embassy, New Delhi, a reception by the Consul General Designate in Mumbai, Mr. Michael Siebert as well as arrangements for the welcome of the ship’s crew in Mumbai.