Following the proposal by the Andhra Pradesh government, the Dakshina Kannada district administration has proposed to house INS Viraat, the last British ship serving the Indian Navy, after its decommissioning in 2016.
The Ministry of Defence is considering converting this aircraft carrier, which has served for 56 years, into a self-sustaining Aircraft Carrier Museum on the lines of U.S. Navy’s Aircraft Carrier Museum. This museum will also have memorabilia from INS Vikrant, and highlight the history of naval aviation and the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict.
The Ministry has been consulting State governments on berthing this ship at a suitable location. One among the places proposed has been Mangaluru.
Expressing interest in having the museum in Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada District Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim had on July 14 written to Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee. The city was known for its good naval facility and having a museum here will inspire more youngsters in the region to join the armed forces.
Mr. Ibrahim said a naval ship museum has been set up in Karwar while a submarine ship museum has been set up in Vishakapatnam.
