It takes 100,000 eggs, 20,000 litres of milk to get India’s biggest ship going
Goa: A city in itself, the 20-storey tall INS Vikramaditya, which had India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its esteemed guest, requires a lot to carry its operations and serve the people onboard.
Vikramaditya, a floating airfield, has an overall length of about 284 metres and a maximum beam of about 60 metres, stretching as much as three football fields put together.
Standing about 20 storeys tall from the keel to the highest point, the ship has a total of 22 decks and carries 1,600 personnel.
Its logistics requirements include nearly a lakh of eggs, 20,000 litres of milk and 16 tonnes of rice per month. With her complete stock of provisions, she is capable of sustaining herself at sea for about 45 days.
On Saturday, Modi visited the country's largest warship INS Vikramaditya off Goa coast in Arabian Sea on Saturday, showcasing India's naval prowess.
The PM dedicated INS Vikramaditya to the nation.
During his stay on the ship, acquired from Russia for over Rs 15,000 crore, Modi would witness 'air power demonstration' by various naval aircraft, including MiG 29K, Sea Harriers, P 8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft, TU 142M and IL-38SD maritime surveillance planes along with Kamov and Sea King helicopters.
The deal for the aircraft carrier was signed during the previous NDA regime in 2004 and the ship will be dedicated to the nation after a gap of ten years.
The vessel had joined the Indian Navy on November 16, 2013. The ship was earlier commissioned by the then defence minister A K Antony in Russia.
It is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier, which was purchased by India from Russia for the Indian Navy in 2013.
The ship has been renamed in honour of Vikramaditya, a legendary 1st century BC emperor.
Watch: PM Narendra Modi aboard India's biggest ship, INS Vikramaditya; inspects Navy prowess