A guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, INS Kochi, has arrived in the Male' area.

It is now anchored near Male'. The vessel is in the Maldives to return the Maldives Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee, which was taken to India for repair work in November.

The Indian High Commission said the visit demonstrates the strength of foreign and security ties between the two countries.

After the repairs, Huravee was officially handed over to the MNDF at a ceremony held at Hulhumale' harbour on Monday.

Commanding Officer of INS Kochi also paid a courtesy call on MNDF Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy.

The vessel is now near the Male' commercial port. The Kolkata-class destroyer can carry out a wide range of maritime operations.

It can travel at 30 knots and is 164 meters long. The ship can carry 390 troops. It has been in service for 16 years.

Huravee was donated by India in 2023 to replace the old MCGS Huravee.

The vessels cannot be refitted in the Maldives because there is no military dock to provide such services. The former government had worked to establish a military port in Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF). However, current government officials, who were the opposition at the time, accused it was a military base for India.