New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS): Rear Admiral S.V. Bhokare on Tuesday took over as the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet commander, replacing Rear Admiral A.B. Singh, a defence statement said.

A specialist in navigation and aircraft direction and a graduate of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Bhokare is a submariner and has commanded submarines Sindhughosh, Sindhudhwaj, and Sindhushastra as well as Indian Naval Ships Beas and Vajrabahu.

The Eastern Fleet today comprises 30 warships, which include destroyers, stealth frigates, amphibious ships, anti-submarine warfare corvettes, missile corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, missile boats and tankers. It in last one year, conducted exercises and evolutions covering the entire operational spectrum at sea. As India's 'maritime ambassadors', its ships visited as many as 13 countries in the last year in course of operations.

Rear Admiral Singh now moves to Delhi to assume duties at HQ Strategic Forces Command.