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India navy drops another anchor
The Indian Navy is getting a new base on the country's east coast. It is 50 kilometers south of Visakhapatnam, where the navy's eastern command is headquartered. This is India's second east-coast naval base, and it is designed to help protect the country's trade with Southeast Asia and to keep a wary eye on China's naval posture in the Bay of Bengal.The new base - it doesn't have a name yet since it is still at a concept and design stage - is expected to berth two aircraft carriers, support ships and submarines. India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, which is capable of operating a fleet of 30 aircraft, including naval light combat aircraft, MiG 29K and Sea Harrier aircraft, is likely to be berthed there. Visakhapatnam houses a naval base and a commercial port, the latter India's leading port in terms of tonnage for the sixth year in a row. Since expansion of the port is not feasible and with maritime traffic expected to increase in the coming years, the need for a complementary port has been felt for a while now. That culminated in the decision to set up a commercial port at Gangavaram. Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-10-16 |
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