Aircraft Carrier Viraat On Final Voyage To Gujarat, Will Be Dismantled

Mumbai:

Decommissioned plane service INS Viraat as we speak set sail for the final time, on option to Alang in Gujarat, the place it is going to be damaged down and bought as scrap.

For Navy veterans who watched the massive vessel being towed by tug boats, there was a lump within the throat as they bade it an emotional farewell from the Gateway of India.

Former navy ship Viraat started its ultimate journey from the Naval dockyard the place it was berthed after being decommissioned in March 2017.

A Navy helicopter circling overhead supplied an impressive backdrop to Viraat’s final voyage from its dwelling base for over three a long time.

A Defence spokesperson stated ‘Viraat’ was to go away for Alang on Friday, however its departure was delayed by a day.

The vessel had served the Indian Navy for 30 years earlier than being decommissioned. It had served within the UK’s Royal Navy as HMS Hermes and named INS Viraat after being inducted within the Indian Navy.

देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा।
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति।।

… the Spirit lives on pic.twitter.com/RaAuCVPjGM

– SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) September 19, 2020

There have been makes an attempt to transform ‘Viraat’ right into a museum or a restaurant, however not one of the plans fructified.

Alang-based Shree Ram group has gained the bid for dismantling the ship. The corporate’s excessive capability tugs are towing the vessel to Alang and it could take two days to finish the journey, an official stated.

Alang, a seashore city, homes the world’s greatest ship breaking yard.

“#Viraat Callsign “Romeo Two Two” – Finish of an period, a wonderful chapter within the historical past of @indiannavy. She departs #Mumbai as we speak for her ultimate journey. Outdated ships by no means die, their spirit lives on,” tweeted PRO Defence Mumbai.

Many social media customers lamented the failure of successive governments to protect Viraat and one other plane service Vikrant as maritime museums to depict India’s wealthy naval heritage, as a substitute of permitting them to be damaged down and bought as scrap.
 

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)