While the newly inducted Russian-origin aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is undergoing a short refit at the Naval Ship Repair Yard at its homeport in Karwar, the Navy is weighing docking options within the country for the 45,000 tonne carrier’s underwater refit, due by the end of next year.
A top source in the Navy said the choice would be between Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company and the public-sector Cochin Shipyard, which has been maintaining the underwater package of the outgoing carrier INS Viraat.
“While Pipavav boasts of a dry-dock large enough to take on Vikramaditya for hull-inspection and underwater maintenance, Cochin Shipyard’s dry-dock too fits the bill. It will only require a bit of dredging at the mouth of the dry-dock to take the vessel in,” he said.
