INS Viraat, world's longest serving warship, will be dismantled at Alang in Gujarat. The warship was decommissioned by the Indian Navy three years ago.
At a programme held to bid a farewell to the warship on Monday, Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that INS Virat has sailed almost 11 lakh kilometers.
He said that the warship served the Indian Navy for 30 years. It will now be recycled at Alang, considered one of the largest ship breaking yards in the world.
The minister said there were plans to convert INS Viraat into a Museum but after several deliberations and consultations it was realized that it would not last for more than a decade.
The contract to dismantle the warship has gone to Alang-based Shree Ram group.
INS Viraat began its final journey from Mumbai on September 19. It took four days for it to reach Alang. The aircraft carrier weighs 27,800 tones.
Coming of INS Viraat to Alang is another feather in the crown of the ship breaking yard that has seen dismantling of vessels from the world over.
