New infrastructure including a major new pier to berth warships at the strategic Karwar naval base in coastal Karnataka, which is being further expanded under Project Seabird with the aim to make it the largest such facility in Asia, was inaugurated by Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Tuesday.
The 350-meter-long pier is capable of berthing offshore patrol vessels, large survey vessels and mine counter measure vessels at the Karwar base, which provides the Navy with both strategic depth and operational flexibility on the western seaboard, especially against Pakistan.
“The pier would also provide various shore-based services, such as electrical power, potable water, chilled water for air conditioning, a 30-tonne mobile crane and other domestic services to the warships,” an officer said.
Already the home base for over 10 frontline warships, the completion of the ongoing Phase-IIA of Project Seabird will enable Karwar to berth 32 major warships and submarines as well as 23 yard-craft. A dual-use naval air station, a full-fledged naval dockyard, four covered dry berths and logistics for ships and aircraft are also part of this phase of construction.
With the Navy chief also inaugurating some additional residential accommodation at Karwar on Tuesday, the officer said the base will eventually house around 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel with families, significantly boosting the local economy and industrial growth.
“The ongoing marine works include piers designed to accommodate ships and submarines, providing a berthing space of more than 6 km, technical facilities, electrical substations, switch gears and support utilities,” he said.
“The centerpiece is an iconic covered dry berth, standing at a height of 75 meter, taller than the Qutub Minar in Delhi, and spread over 33,000 square meter land area. This dry berth is designed to facilitate simultaneous docking and comprehensive enclosed maintenance of up to four major warships,” he added.
