INS Vikrant commences its sea trials from Cochin Ship Yard

Kochi, 4 August (H.S): Wednesday, August 4, turned out to be a memorable and historical day for India as well as its defence forces, especially the Indian Navy as the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant commenced its sea trials from Cochin Ship Yard. At the stroke of 9 am the giant vessel, which could be described as a moving city and piloted by Cochin Port Trust’s senior pilot Capt Bhaskar Kunhi, entered the waters of the Arabian Sea for its sea trials and endurance testing operations.

A crew of more than 1200 officers, sailors, engineers, designers, master technicians and marine experts constituting the crew will subject the biggest ever ship built with 76 per cent indigenous materials for a series of tests to check its operationality.

The otherwise tranquil waters of the Arabian Sea abutting the Cochin Shipyard and Southern Naval Command came alive as a fleet of four powerful tugs pulled INS Vikrant through the ship channel as Capt Bhaskar Kunhi directed the aircraft carrier throughout the 18 km distance towards the outer sea for the five-day-long trials of all the components incorporated in the ship. The sight of the slow cruise of the aircraft carrier through the backwaters with the elegant Kochi landscape behind it was a once in a lifetime scene for artists as well as navigators, Capt Kunhi told Hindustan Samachar after he returned to the Port.

While the four tugs which took the ship to high seas returned to the base, one of the tugs remained with Vikrant, named after India’s first-ever aircraft carrier of the Second World War vintage which played a major role in the obliteration of Pakistan’s naval establishments during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

A release by the Indian Navy said that the 262 meters long and 62-meter wide aircraft carrier with a height of 59 meters was designed by the elite Directorate of Naval Design ad built at the public sector Cochin Shipyard Ltd. “This is the maiden attempt of the Indian Navy and CSL to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier,” said the release. There are 14 decks in all, including five in the superstructure. “The ship has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,700 people including specialized cabins to accommodate women officers. Vikrant has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles. The ship can accommodate an assortment of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft,” the release disclosed.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described the sea trials of Vikrant as a proud moment for India. “Maiden sea sortie of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, ‘Vikrant’ is a true testimony to our unwavering commitment to #Atmanirbharta in Defense. The realisation of this historic milestone, regardless of COVID, shows true dedication and commitment of all stakeholders,” Singh said in his message.

Indian Navy’s spokesman’s words made many heads turn: “Proud & historic day for India as the reincarnated #Vikrant sails for her maiden sea trials today, in the 50th year of her illustrious predecessor’s key role in the victory in the #1971war. Largest & most complex warship ever to be designed & built in India. Many more will follow…”, tweeted the spokesman.

The message comes at a time when the scientific community in the country is on cloud nine over the possibilities of India building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier a la Nimitz of the US Navy.