MOSCOW, July 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has been and remains a great maritime power, the country's navy commander said Sunday in a congratulatory letter on the occasion of Navy Day.

"Since ancient times Russia has been and remains a great maritime power. The Russian fleet has always been the love and pride of the country. With their courage and valor, honor and heroism, Russian sailors wrote pages of its glorious history," Admiral Vladimir Masorin said.

Masorin said the Russian Navy was celebrating its professional holiday in the year of the centenary of the Navy's submarine fleet, the 90th anniversary of naval aviation and the 310th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian Fleet.

"Russia is rightfully proud of those who have devoted the best years of their life to the service of Motherland on board atomic and diesel submarines, surface ships, in naval aviation and marine forces," Masorin said.