INS Viraat can serve Navy till 2018: Captain

(IBN Live): INS Viraat, Indian Navy's sole aircraft carrier, has enough life left and could be in active service at least till 2018, opined Captain R Harikumar, Commanding Officer of INS Viraat. The vessel, which is in Kochi for a short refit at the Cochin Shipyard, is currently berthed at the Ernakulam Wharf. Captain Harikumar is a native of Thiruvananthapuram. He is the first Keralite to command the prestigious aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy.Captain Harikumar told reporters on board Viraat that the vessel, which would complete 25 years of service in the Indian Navy next year, will organise major celebrations to commemorate the occasion."We would organise a couple of events for the celebrations, as part of which we are planning to invite our formal commanding officers," he said. INS Viraat was in Kochi about two years ago for a medium refit. Currently, the vessel has come for a short refit, which is part of the periodical maintenance and would last for about two months."As part of the refit cleaning, painting and repainting of the underwater portion would be carried out. Cleaning the surface, repainting and repairing the issues owing to sea erosion are being done during the short refit. Usually short refits are carried out once in 1618 months. Viraat would have a major refit again in about two years," he said. There won't be any major overhaul of the equipment or electronic systems during the short refit. After the refit the vessel would return to Mumbai, where it is stationed. INS Viraat will be open to visitors for one week till it is berthed at the Ernakulam Wharf.