After several unsuccessful attempts to convert it into a museum, India’s revered warship, INS Viraat, is set for retirement, as confirmed by the Union Ministry of Defence in consultation with the Indian Navy. The ongoing costs of maintaining the battleship, including electricity, water, and repair charges, coupled with the limited space in the congested Mumbai dockyard, have led to this decision.
The Uncertain Fate of INS Viraat
The proposal to handover INS Viraat to any State government was turned down due to the non-receipt of a financially self-reliant proposition. Moreover, the failed conversion of INS Vikrant, India’s first carrier, into a museum further augmented concerns about the future of INS Viraat. The Navy kept INS Vikrant afloat in Mumbai for 17 years while various conversion proposals were deliberated without fruition until it was eventually scrapped in 2014.
Efforts to Preserve INS Viraat
In 2016, Andhra Pradesh government proposed to transform Viraat into an aircraft museum integrated with tourist and hospitality factors on a commercial basis, in partnership with the Union government. However, the Ministry of Defence rejected the proposal. Later, in 2018, the Maharashtra Cabinet also green-lit a plan for converting the carrier into a museum and hospitality center through a public-private partnership. Nevertheless, this initiative found no takers.
INS Viraat: A Brief Overview
| Type | Weight | Service Years in British Navy | Service Years in Indian Navy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centaur class aircraft carrier | 27,800 tonnes | 25 years (1959-1984) | 30 years (1987-2017) |
INS Viraat’s Historic Significance and Achievements
Formerly known as HMS Hermes, INS Viraat initially served the British Navy for 25 years from 1959 to 1984 as a Centaur class light fleet carrier before it was refurbished and commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987. With a service record spanning 58 years, INS Viraat holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest-serving warship in the world. This veteran carrier majorly contributed to Operation Jupiter in 1989 during the Sri Lankan peacekeeping operation and has been pivotal in honing the art of flying operations from a carrier deck within the navy, enabling the smooth induction of INS Vikramaditya later.
