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| Image: Flickr User - rgm737 |
India’s INS Viraat, world’s oldest aircraft carrier, started its last voyage on Sunday before decommissioning, local media reported.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The journey started in the southwestern port of Kochi where Navy officials headed by Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Nadkarni bid farewell to the ship, the New Indian Express reported.
INS Viraat being towed by three tugs is heading for Mumbai where a decommissioning ceremony will take place later this year.
The ship will be handed over to the Andhra Pradesh government after decommissioning, that wants to use it for promotion of tourism.
INS Viraat (initially HMS Hermes) was built in the United Kingdom where it was commissioned in 1959. India purchased the ship in 1986.
This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.