Family members of the Navy personnels today had a unique opportunity to visit the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, which would be decommissioned later this year.
"INS Viraat arrived and berthed at Mormugao Port Trust at Vasco town of Goa yesterday. The families of Indian Navy personnels were taken on board today," a Navy spokesman said.
The legendary Sea Harrier squadron INAS 300 which are attached to this aircraft carrier were also on board, he said.
"INS Viraat is likely to be decommissioned by end of the year and the squadron will be decommissioned shortly," the spokesman said.
The aircraft carrier had participated in the International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam this year.
Over the AP government's proposal to convert the
decommissioned Viraat into a maritime museum, Lanba said, "We will examine the proposal. But (on) financing it for the conversion, the decision will be taken by the defence ministry."
To a query on whether there was a proposal from two wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto, the navy chief said, "I have not heard of any such proposal."
The question was asked in the context of aircraft carrier INS Vikrant's parts used by Bajaj Auto for making its limited edition two wheeler, after decommissioning of that warship.
The Defence Ministry last wrote to all the coastal states to put forward proposals on INS Viraat, but only Andhra Pradesh proposed to convert it into an offshore luxury hotel and build a Marina along with an entertainment zone around it, a Navy official said.
