New Delhi, May 19, 2010, SPA -- Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma Wednesday asked his commanders to maintain a high state of preparedness as the force's role in fighting terrorism and piracy would grow. He also emphasized the need to maintain the highest standards of "moral conduct and integrity in addition to professional excellence." "The Navy needs to maintain a high state of preparedness due to the ever-increasing demands of maritime security both in the littorals and high seas," Verma said at the four-day Navy Commanders Conference, which began here on Tuesday. He said the tempo of operational commitments were increasing significantly necessitating greater attention to improving operational efficiencies and material availability. "Professional excellence, coupled with material preparedness, sound logistics, effective maintenance and comprehensive training are the cornerstones of combat readiness," he was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India. --SPA 14:43 LOCAL TIME 11:43 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/782755