The 100th batch of the Basic Engineering Course (BEC) passed out from the Naval Engineering College at the Lonavala-based INS Shivaji on Saturday.

“It is a significant milestone for the college. The batch had 23 graduating officers, including five officers from the Sri Lankan Navy and three from the Maldives National Security Service,” said Commander R Ravi Shanker, senior education officer for Commanding Office.

At present, there are 50 foreign students at the Naval Engineering College in various semesters. Lt Deepak Ahlawat received the award for best all-round officer of the course while Lt D Ameer Basha secured first position in overall order of the merit. The prize for Positive Living was awarded to Lt Ronil Chowdhary.

On Saturday, the graduating officers passed out in a parade reviewed by Vice Admiral N N Kumar, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The Admiral and the Commanding Officer of INS Shivaji, Commodore DM Deshpande, are both alumni of the BEC.

The Naval Engineering College conducts the three-year Basic Engineering Course for cadet entry, a Naval Academy Graduate Entry officers' course and a four-year Naval Engineering Course for Cadet Entry 10+2 (Tech) officers. While the NEC course for Naval entry is in the process of being moved to Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, the decision on BEC is still pending.

“For the BEC to be shifted to Kerala, the NDA course has to be restructured to give basic training to technical cadets of the Navy,” Ravi Shankar said.

The first BEC course was started in July 1957. Each intake of students is done twice a year.