Section 48(4) in The Naval Ceremonial, Conditions Of Service And Miscellaneous Regulations, 1964
(4)The following rules shall be observed by all naval officers in regard to the interchange of visits with officers of Commonwealth and friendly foreign warships in all ports whether Indian, Commonwealth or foreign:(a)On the arrival of any warship of another country, the Flag or other officer in command of one or more warships, in port, whatever may be his rank, shall send an officer to such arriving ship, or in the case of a fleet or squadron, to the ship of the officer in chief command of it, to offer the customary courtesies. The Captain of the ship to which this visit is paid shall send an officer to return it.(b)Within twenty-four hours of his arrival, the Flag or other officer in the chief command of the arriving ship or ships shall visit the officer in chief command of the fleet or squadron or single warship of another country present at the port, if he be his equal in grade, and the visit will be returned within twenty-four hours of being paid. In the case of officers of different grades, the officer of inferior grade shall pay the first visit, the same limits of time being observed as to the visit and its return.(c)Officers of superior grades are to return the visits as follows :-Flag Officers and Commodores are to return the visits of Captains and those of grades superior to Captain; they shall send their Flag Captains to return the visits of Commanders, Lieutenant-Commanders and other officers in command. Captains and officers of a lower grade shall return the visits of Commanders and officers of inferior rank in command.(d)After the interchange of visits between the Senior Officers has taken place, the Captains or other officers in command of the several ships of war arriving shall visit the Captains or other officers in command of the warships in port, who shall return their visits.(e)Indian Naval officers may expect that strict reciprocity shall be observed in similar circumstances by foreign and Commonwealth naval officers in respect of these visits of ceremony.Explanation 1. - For the purpose of this regulation, the professional Head of an Armed Service including Navy shall be regarded as the Senior Officer regardless of his actual rank and seniority. As regards calls between officers holding these appointments, the normal rules of rank and seniority shall apply.Explanation 2. - The grades referred to in sub-regulation (4) are-(a)Admiral.(b)Vice-Admiral.(c)Rear-Admiral.(d)Commodore.(e)Captain.(f)Commander.(g)Lieutenant-Commander or other officer in command.
