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Decommissioned aircraft carrier 'Viraat' sails into oblivion
Updated On: 20 September, 2020 10:35 AM IST | New Delhi | IANS
The vessel was bought by Shri Ram Green Ship Recycling Industries Ltd, Gujarat, for Rs 38.50 crore in an auction conducted by MSTC Ltd.
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Aircraft carrier Viraat. Pic courtesy: Indian Navy
The Indian Navy's once majestic and imposing aircraft carrier 'INS Viraat' - now decommissioned - started on its swansong voyage to Alang port in Gujarat, the country's biggest graveyard for all such condemned ships, officials said here on Saturday. The British-built carrier, in her heyday served the Indian Navy by remaining at sea for 2,258 days and covered 10,95,000 kms (590,000 nautical miles) - equal to encircling the planet 27 times, and clocked 22,622 hours of flying operations by its aircraft in the country's service. Towed by two other vessels for her final voyage, she will reach Alang port in around 3 days, signalling the end of a glorious era of Indian maritime history, said a naval official.
The vessel was bought by Shri Ram Green Ship Recycling Industries Ltd, Gujarat, for Rs 38.50 crore in an auction conducted by MSTC Ltd. Formerly known as 'HMS Hermes', she had served the British Navy for a quarter century from November 1959 to April 1984 and rubbed shoulders with royalty for a brief period. It was in 1974 that Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, had flown helicopters of 845 Naval Air Squadron aboard the 'HMS Hermes'. The second Centaur-class aircraft carrier in India, as INS Viraat she served 29 years and earlier 27 years as HMS Hermes, making it a total of 56 years of operational service - notching a Guinness World Record.
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