The 76-year-old historical warship INS Viraat (INS Viraat), the longest-serving in the world, has access to the Alang coast of Gujarat. It was retired by the Indian Navy three years ago, after which it will now be immersed on 28 September.
The warship carrier started its final journey from Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Saturday and reached Alang in Bhavnagar district on Monday evening. It was lowered into the ship-breaking yard at Alang and then sold as scrap.
Immersion formalities
This warship was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987. Now it was bought by Shri Ram Group in July this year at an auction for Rs 38.54 crore. Mukesh Patel, Chairman of Shri Ram Group, said that government officials are onboard to complete the formalities as per the shipbreaking code. The necessary formalities of the authority including Customs, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), and AERB will be completed from Thursday.
Key parts removed
After retiring the historic ship in 2017, its engines and generators were first removed in Kochi. Later, the ship's wiring was deactivated and its radar, fans, navigation equipment, bridge room, and all reused equipment were removed.
Traveled the world 27 times
INS Virat holds the record for being the longest-serving warship in the world. The Second Centaur-class aircraft carrier served the Indian Navy for 29 years. In the history of 29 years, this ship has traveled a total of 10,94,215 km. This distance is such that if it were to rotate around the earth, it would have completed its 27 revolutions. This ship's plate, deck-run-way built-in 1944, is still very strong today. Earlier, there was a proposal that this ship is preserved as a maritime museum.
But in July 2019, the central government said in Parliament that the decision to scrap INS Virat was taken after due consultation with the Indian Navy. It is the second aircraft carrier to break into India. Earlier in 2014, INS Vikrant was disbanded in Mumbai.
The aircraft carrier, in its first incarnation, won the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982 for the Royal British Navy.