Bhavnagar: India’s historic and longest-serving aircraft carrier, which made its place into the Guinness Book of World Records, INS Viraat is all set for dismantling at the Alang Ship Breaking Yard near Bhavnagar.
The aircraft carrier INS Viraat, which had served the Indian Navy for as long as 30 years, was sold to a private recycling industry of Alang Ship Breaking Yard in an online auction for Rs 38.54 crore.
INS Viraat, which served the Indian Navy from 1987 to 2016, is being brought to Alang from Mumbai through a tug. The aircraft carrier, having a displacement capacity of 18,000 tons, was commissioned in 1959 and inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987. INS Viraat had sailed for the last time on July 23, 2016. It was officially decommissioned by the Navy on March 6, 2017. The aircraft carrier is 49 metres broad and 225 metres long.
Read:| Decommissioned INS Viraat to be dismantled at Alang
Mukesh Patel, chairman of Shri Ram Green Ship Recycling Industries, told ETV Bharat that INS Viraat is expected to reach Alang on September 22 or 23 to be dismantled following all prevailing rules and regulations.
This is the second time in the last six years that an Indian warship will be dismantled.
INS Vikrant, which had played a crucial role during the war with Pakistan in 1971 was dismantled in 2014.
According to the Gujarat Maritime Board, INS Viraat is the largest warship of the Indian Navy being brought to Alang for dismantling.
Earlier, warships of the United Kingdom and New Zealand were dismantled at Alang.
INS Viraat will take around 8 to 10 months to be completely dismantled.
