Group of Indian Crewmen of INS Vikramaditya Finished Training

24.01.2012 Another group of Indian naval servicemen received diplomas of the Kuznetsov Naval Academy on the New Year's Eve in Severodvinsk. The documents were handed over to future crewmen of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya; they are 23 bilge engineers, the first group of the second course. Capt Srinivas Kudravalli, chief Indian Navy's observer congratulated his nationals on successful graduation; so did director of state-led corporation Rostekhnologii S. Klimanov, and the head of training group at Sevmash Shipyard N. Zhirkov, reports the yard's press service.

According to Russia's commitments, except for repair and modernization of Project 11430 aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya at Sevmash shipyard, the contract includes training of Indian naval personnel.

Training process is held in two phases and has proved its effectiveness. Indian naval mariners study theory in St. Petersburg in the Kuznetsov Naval Academy, Naval Officer Course, and Naval Engineer College (Pushkin, Leningrad region).

Practice takes place at Sevmash shipyard, directly on the ship. All Indian servicemen – officers and non-commissioned personnel – were divided into 3 courses each consisting of several groups. The first 152-men course had finished training in Dec 2011. The second 112-men course started training on Oct 1, 2011 and will complete practice at Sevmash early March 2012. The largest third 405-men course will begin training on March 15, 2012 and finish it by the time of the ship's delivery to Indian Navy – Dec 4, 2012.

The carrier is equipped with many kinds of hardware unfamiliar to Indian mariners; thus, well-arranged training process is essential both for qualitative acceptance and appropriate handling of the ship during her service in Indian Navy.

Another group of Indian naval servicemen will arrive at Sevmash for training on March 10 after completion of theoretical course in St. Petersburg.