INS Kadamba
Coordinates: 14°45′51.20″N 74°7′42.36″E / 14.764222°N 74.1284333°E
| INS Kadamba | |
|---|---|
| Karwar, Karnataka | |
| Type | Naval station |
| Built | 2005 |
| In use | 2005-present |
| Controlled by | Indian Navy |
| Occupants | Western Naval Command |
INS Kadamba is an Indian Navy base located near Karwar in Karnataka.[1] The first phase of construction of the base, code-named Project Seabird, was completed in 2005. Development of Phase II commenced in 2011.
[edit] History
During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, the Indian Navy faced security challenges for its Western Fleet in Mumbai Harbour due to congestion in the shipping lanes from commercial shipping traffic, fishing boats and tourists. At the end of the war, various options were considered on addressing these concerns.[2] Various locations were considered including Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur and Thoothukudi.[3]
In the early 1980s, then Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson conceived of a dedicated naval base sandwiched between the craggy hills of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea near Karwar in Karnataka state. Located south of the naval bases in Mumbai and Goa and north of Kochi, the location had significant advantages as being at a distance from congested commercial shipping lanes and out of range of most strike aircraft from neighboring countries. It also offered a natural, deep-water harbour and significant land area for expansion, allowing larger aircraft carriers to berth. However, due to a variety of reasons, including the 1991 economic crisis, development was delayed.
In 1999, following Pokhran-II, then Defence Minister George Fernandes approved Project Seabird to pursue the construction of the new naval base at Karwar. Larsen & Toubro was the lead contractor for the marine works on the harbour, in partnership with Hochtief and Ballast Nadem Dredging of the Netherlands. Over 5 km of breakwater were constructed to protect the harbour.[4]
Spread over an area of 45 square kilometres (11,000 acres) and 23 km (14 mi) of coastline on the Arabian Sea,[5] Phase I of INS Kadamba was commissioned on 31 May 2005.[6] The base has a Naval Ship Repair Yard and a 141-bed naval hospital INHS Patanjali.[7] Commodore K.P. Ramachandran was the first Commanding Officer.
Development of Phase II of INS Kadamba commenced in 2011.[2] It will double the existing facilities at the base.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ "INS Kadamba". Indian Navy. http://indiannavy.nic.in/kadamba.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ a b "India Opens Major Western Naval Base Near Karwar". Defense Industry Daily. 2011-10-17. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/india-opens-major-naval-base-at-karwar-0647/. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ^ "Seabird on course". Frontline. 2003-12-20. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Articles/Article18.html. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "INS Kadamba - Naval Base at Karward". India Defence. 2005-06-01. http://www.indiadefence.com/kadamba.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "Karwar naval project takes off from May 31". The Hindu. 2005-05-22. http://www.hindu.com/2005/05/22/stories/2005052200111100.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "INS Kadamba commissioned". Rediff. 2005-05-31. http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/may/31navy.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "INS Kadamba commissioned". The Hindu. 2005-06-01. http://hindu.com/2005/06/01/stories/2005060105071400.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "INS Kadamba". Global Security. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/ins-seabird.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
