INS Viraat sails to Kochi for repairs, dry docking

MUMBAI: Aircraft carrier INS Viraat sailed for Kochi on Saturday afternoon for essential repairs and dry docking (ERDD) at the Cochin shipyard. This is the last sailing under her own propulsion as INS Viraat is slated for decommissioning later this year. Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command and other senior officers of the command, visited the ship and interacted with the crew prior to her departure.

The defence spokesperson said the carrier was escorted out of harbour by Fast Interceptor Craft and helicopters from the Western Naval Command. The ship will be towed back to Mumbai on completion of ERDD, for the decommissioning ceremony later this year. “The second aircraft carrier of the country has spent 29 years under the Indian flag and 27 years with the Royal Navy (United Kingdom). The ship holds the Guinness Record for being the oldest serving warship. INS Viraat is a Centaur-Class Aircraft Carrier and served in the Royal Navy as HMS Hermes, which was the flag ship of Royal Navy during the Falklands Campaign of 1982. She is commonly referred to as the `Grand Old Lady' among Indian Naval Officers,“ said the official.

INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987. The ship operated Sea Harrier (White Tigers-fighter aircraft), Seaking 42B (Harpoons-anti submarine helicopters) and Seaking 42C (Commando carrier helicopters) and Chetak (Angles-SAR helicopter) as her main air elements.