Indian Crew Leaves INS Vikramaditya

26.09.2012 Indian naval mariners are leaving Russian-built aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya where they have been training before the carrier's handover to Indian Navy.

When the ship failed sea trials in September, her delivery date was postponed for the spring of 2013. Most of Indian crewmembers will spend this period at home, an insider involved in the trials told Central Navy Portal.

Training of Indian crew is provided by the contract for repair and retrofitting of the ship. First 152 Indian naval servicemen arrived on INS Vikramaditya in March 2011. Other 112 Indians studied theory in Naval Academy near St. Petersburg since Sept 2011. Totally, according to Central Navy Portal, 669 future crewmembers of INS Vikramaditya were trained on the ship during the sea trials.

However, Indian sailors will return back to Russia no later than in May 2013. About 1,400 men are expected to arrive at that time.