Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat, India’s Longest Serving Warship, To Be Dismantled In Gujarat

INS Viraat, the 2nd Centaur-class plane provider, served for 30 years earlier than being decommissioned

Ahmedabad:

INS Viraat, the plane provider that served the Indian Navy for 30 years earlier than being decommissioned three years in the past, is prone to be towed from Mumbai to Alang in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district subsequent month to be dismantled and offered as scrap, an official stated.

The longest serving warship, inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987, was purchased by Shree Ram Group for Rs 38.54 crore at an public sale performed by the Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited final month.

It will seemingly be towed from the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai to ship breaking yard at Alang subsequent month, the corporate’s chairman Mukesh Patel stated.

“We have made the entire payment and received delivery order from the government. So, depending on the monsoon condition, it will be towed to Alang from the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai where it is stationed now, most likely by mid or end of September after receiving the required permission from the Directorate General of Shipping,” Mr Patel stated.

It will take round three days for the ship to be towed from Mumbai to Alang. It will likely be scrapped on the nation’s first licensed eco-friendly ship recycling yard in 9 to 12 months, he stated.

INS Viraat, the second Centaur-class plane provider, was in service for 30 years earlier than being decommissioned in March 2017.

There have been proposals previously to protect it as a maritime museum.

In July final 12 months, the central authorities stated in Parliament that the choice to scrap INS Viraat was taken in due session with the Indian Navy.

The plane provider, in its earlier avatar, had received the Falklands War towards Argentina in 1982 for the Royal British Navy.

It weighs about 27,800 tonnes and served within the British Navy as HMS Hermes from November 1959 to April 1984 and after refurbishment, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.

In late 80s, the Indian Navy bought it at a price of USD 65 million and it was re-commissioned on May 12, 1987.

INS Viraat is the second plane provider to be damaged down in India. In 2014, INS Vikrant was dismantled in Mumbai.
 

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