The North Jetty of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) will be rebuilt on a bigger scale by October 2024 to berth the augmented fleet of naval ships that operate from the Naval Base in Kochi, Vice Admiral M.A. Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, has said.
This is in keeping with the induction of next-generation offshore patrol vessels, shallow water craft, and other ships, and the impending replacement of the existing cadet training ships in two to three years. Altogether, the operational availability of 80% of the 17 big ships based in Kochi was made available, thanks to joint efforts by the Navy and civilian defence personnel, he told the media onboard INS Tir, a ship of the Navy’s First Training Squadron, on Saturday.
He added that the Navy was awaiting the Centre’s nod to place order for the third aircraft carrier (following the construction of indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant at the Cochin Shipyard).
