<p>As they test the waters on the political front, Tamil Nadu ministers and ruling AIADMK MLAs today had a smooth sailing as they undertook a trip on-board warship INS Chennai.<br /><br />The Day at Sea organised by the Navy follows the formal dedication of the indigenously designed guided missile destroyer INS Chennai to the city by Chief Minister K Palaniswami yesterday.<br /><br />Though Palaniswami did not take part in the trip, several senior AIADMK MLAs and ministers did so. Tamil Nadu is witnessing a flurry of political developments amid possible merger of two rival factions of the ruling AIADMK.<br /><br />Minister for Finance and Fisheries, D Jayakumar, Minister for Cooperation 'Sellur' K Raju, Social Welfare Minister V Saroja, Minister for Health C Vijayabhasker, Minister for Handloom and Textiles, O S Manian, Revenue Minister R V Udhaya Kumar were among those who participated.<br /><br />"This is our first trip on a ship. Already I have travelled with fishermen. I have never gone on such a trip with Parliamentarians, MLAs along with their family members. All my family members, including grandsons and granddaughters joined me for this trip", Handloom Minister Manian said.<br /><br />Finance Minister D Jayakumar said "This is a dedicated ship exclusively built in India. It is equipped with all the modern technology. Going on a trip on a warship is big thing for us".<br />Named after the city, INS Chennai is commanded by captain C R Praveen Nair and has 45 officers.<br /><br />Commissioned by then Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar last year, INS Chennai is one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.<br /><br />The vessel's anti-submarine warfare capabilities include indigenously developed rocket and torpedo launchers. Besides, it is equipped to fight under nuclear, biological and chemical warfare conditions.<br /><br />A unique feature of the ship is the "high level of indigenisation" incorporated in the production.<br /><br />Some major indigenised equipment on-board INS Chennai include combat management system, rocket launcher, torpedo tube launcher, automated power management system and the bow mounted SONAR. <br /><br /></p>
<p>As they test the waters on the political front, Tamil Nadu ministers and ruling AIADMK MLAs today had a smooth sailing as they undertook a trip on-board warship INS Chennai.<br /><br />The Day at Sea organised by the Navy follows the formal dedication of the indigenously designed guided missile destroyer INS Chennai to the city by Chief Minister K Palaniswami yesterday.<br /><br />Though Palaniswami did not take part in the trip, several senior AIADMK MLAs and ministers did so. Tamil Nadu is witnessing a flurry of political developments amid possible merger of two rival factions of the ruling AIADMK.<br /><br />Minister for Finance and Fisheries, D Jayakumar, Minister for Cooperation 'Sellur' K Raju, Social Welfare Minister V Saroja, Minister for Health C Vijayabhasker, Minister for Handloom and Textiles, O S Manian, Revenue Minister R V Udhaya Kumar were among those who participated.<br /><br />"This is our first trip on a ship. Already I have travelled with fishermen. I have never gone on such a trip with Parliamentarians, MLAs along with their family members. All my family members, including grandsons and granddaughters joined me for this trip", Handloom Minister Manian said.<br /><br />Finance Minister D Jayakumar said "This is a dedicated ship exclusively built in India. It is equipped with all the modern technology. Going on a trip on a warship is big thing for us".<br />Named after the city, INS Chennai is commanded by captain C R Praveen Nair and has 45 officers.<br /><br />Commissioned by then Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar last year, INS Chennai is one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.<br /><br />The vessel's anti-submarine warfare capabilities include indigenously developed rocket and torpedo launchers. Besides, it is equipped to fight under nuclear, biological and chemical warfare conditions.<br /><br />A unique feature of the ship is the "high level of indigenisation" incorporated in the production.<br /><br />Some major indigenised equipment on-board INS Chennai include combat management system, rocket launcher, torpedo tube launcher, automated power management system and the bow mounted SONAR. <br /><br /></p>