INS Viraat retires today

INS Viraat, the world’s oldest aircraft carrier in service, will be decommissioned this evening with a ceremonial send-off in Mumbai. The decommissioning of INS Viraat will be very emotional moment for Navy and personnel deployed on the ship.

A glorious chapter in the Indian Navy’s history will come to an end today when INS Viraat, the longest serving aircraft carrier will retire after serving the country for nearly three decades. The decommissioning ceremony will be attended, by defence minister Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries. The grand event will see the lowering and wrap-up of the naval flag installed on the warship at sunset, marking an end to a long sea odyssey lasting 55 years.

The ship’s name is entered in the Guinness book of World Records for being the oldest serving warship. It was commissioned in Indian Navy in 1987, before that the historic ship served Royal British Navy for 27 long years. It was built in 1943, during the Second World War. Viraat has spent more than 2,250 days at sea, clocking 10.94 lakh km.

The carrier was mobilised during Operation Parakram when hostilities between India and Pakistan peaked following the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001. It also played a crucial role when Indian peacekeepers were deployed in Sri Lanka in 1989. It was on stand-by when the Kargil war was fought in 1999.

Although the decision on the warship’s future has not been taken yet. But the warship would be possibly converted into a museum, hotel or preserving it as a relic of maritime history.