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Navy poised to complete phase I at Karwar integrated base
Ravi Sharma
Armament depot at INS Kadamba to be operationalised in a few months
# A 10,000-tonne shiplift, ship transfer system built
# Rs. 2.500 crore likely to be sanctioned for phase II
Bangalore: With the operationalisation of the armament depot at INS Kadamba just a few months away, the Navy is poised to complete the first phase of operations at India's state-of-the-art, integrated naval base on the western seaboard at Karwar.
To become India's fourth naval command headquarters, it will eventually be the biggest such base this side of the Suez.
Truncated for paucity of funds, phase I, which cost Rs. 2,480 crore, primarily involved the construction of a Rs. 157-crore, 10,000-tonne shiplift and ship transfer system (the only one of its kind in India); the construction of a harbour and anchorage; a 420x185-metre jetty; berthing facilities for around 10 ships; logistics to administer and accommodate over 1,000 officers and sailors and their families; and a modern naval ship repair yard.
The shiplift can also be used for underwater hull repairs and has had its calendar full ever since it was commissioned almost a year ago. Currently, five ships of the Navy's surface fleet are based out of INS Kadamba: the amphibious warfare vessel INS Shardul, the large patrol craft INS Sukanya and INS Subhadra, the replenishment tanker and repair ship INS Aditya and the diving support ship INS Nireekshak. The Navy has posted 110 officers and around 700 sailors at the base.
Phase II
According to official sources, the Navy is in the process of submitting to the Government plans for phase II, which originally was to have taken off in 2005 and completed by 2010.
While the Navy has already received in-principle sanction for phase II, the Cabinet Committee on Security is expected to clear funds before the year-end. Estimates are that the government could sanction around Rs. 2,500 crore. Phase II will involve additional berthing and repair facilities to accommodate 25 ships, tugs and barges. Manpower will be increased to 300 officers and around 2,500 sailors. It will be the only base in the country that will allow large ships such as the 44,500-tonne Kiev Class Soviet Union-built aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov," which India is acquiring, into harbour. "Admiral Gorshkov," to be renamed "Vikramaditya" will be based out of INS Kadamba.
The construction of a naval air station with a 6,000-foot runway is also expected to be one of the primary activities under phase II.
With Karnataka evincing interest in operating civilian commercial flights of the Airbus 320 class out of the naval airport, the runway will have to be extended to 10,000 feet. The Defence Ministry has been in discussion with the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Karnataka Government on this proposal.
A site inspection by the Airports Authority of India indicated that 75 hectares of additional land was required for runway extension.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052005091000.htm
Ravi Sharma
Armament depot at INS Kadamba to be operationalised in a few months
# A 10,000-tonne shiplift, ship transfer system built
# Rs. 2.500 crore likely to be sanctioned for phase II
Bangalore: With the operationalisation of the armament depot at INS Kadamba just a few months away, the Navy is poised to complete the first phase of operations at India's state-of-the-art, integrated naval base on the western seaboard at Karwar.
To become India's fourth naval command headquarters, it will eventually be the biggest such base this side of the Suez.
Truncated for paucity of funds, phase I, which cost Rs. 2,480 crore, primarily involved the construction of a Rs. 157-crore, 10,000-tonne shiplift and ship transfer system (the only one of its kind in India); the construction of a harbour and anchorage; a 420x185-metre jetty; berthing facilities for around 10 ships; logistics to administer and accommodate over 1,000 officers and sailors and their families; and a modern naval ship repair yard.
The shiplift can also be used for underwater hull repairs and has had its calendar full ever since it was commissioned almost a year ago. Currently, five ships of the Navy's surface fleet are based out of INS Kadamba: the amphibious warfare vessel INS Shardul, the large patrol craft INS Sukanya and INS Subhadra, the replenishment tanker and repair ship INS Aditya and the diving support ship INS Nireekshak. The Navy has posted 110 officers and around 700 sailors at the base.
Phase II
According to official sources, the Navy is in the process of submitting to the Government plans for phase II, which originally was to have taken off in 2005 and completed by 2010.
While the Navy has already received in-principle sanction for phase II, the Cabinet Committee on Security is expected to clear funds before the year-end. Estimates are that the government could sanction around Rs. 2,500 crore. Phase II will involve additional berthing and repair facilities to accommodate 25 ships, tugs and barges. Manpower will be increased to 300 officers and around 2,500 sailors. It will be the only base in the country that will allow large ships such as the 44,500-tonne Kiev Class Soviet Union-built aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov," which India is acquiring, into harbour. "Admiral Gorshkov," to be renamed "Vikramaditya" will be based out of INS Kadamba.
The construction of a naval air station with a 6,000-foot runway is also expected to be one of the primary activities under phase II.
With Karnataka evincing interest in operating civilian commercial flights of the Airbus 320 class out of the naval airport, the runway will have to be extended to 10,000 feet. The Defence Ministry has been in discussion with the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Karnataka Government on this proposal.
A site inspection by the Airports Authority of India indicated that 75 hectares of additional land was required for runway extension.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052005091000.htm
