Repair of Indian Carrier to Take 3 Months, No Longer

02.10.2012 Recovery works on broken down steam boilers of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya will take not more than 2-3 months, a representative of United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) told Central Navy Portal.

To repair three out of eight boilers broken down at sea trials held in the summer in the Barents Sea by aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya repaired and upgraded by Sevmash shipyard, the latter will need not more than 3 months. That is estimated duration of all repair works on replacement of thermal insulation and boilers' parts.

"That period is practicable", said the USC official. "If ice situation in the White Sea wasn't so serious, the ship's trials would have finished very soon. But unfortunately, because of ice-cover period we will have to resume trials only in April or May", he added.

Commenting media reports about postponing of the carrier's delivery date to the next fall, the insider said that the information was not correct.

"The ship is ready and 90% tested. Revealing of possible defects is just why trials are carried out. Aircraft tests passed successfully and in full. Take note, it's the carrier's main weapon. In the next year Indian Navy will receive the full-fledged aircraft carrier which will make this country feel master of the Indian Ocean, in contrast to China. Despite Chinese Navy has already commissioned Liaoning [former Soviet Varyag], she won't become a real warship soon. That would need five years or even longer", said the USC official.

"All deadlines for elimination of revealed defects were agreed upon with Indian partners. By the way, they're satisfied with the first phase of sea trials. Some imported equipment failed to prove its value. Purchase and replacement of such things also needs time. Indian Navy's officials and experts are not so tragic about postponing of delivery date for several months. In many ways, the aircraft carrier is extremely sophisticated and innovative project both for shipbuilders and operators. Things never go like clockwork from the very beginning. We obtained a certain experience at the past trials, the shipyard will eliminate found defects through the winter, and the ship will surely pass all tests. The main thing is business approach to problem handling. And we see both parties are using such approach", said the interviewee of Central Navy Portal.

Recall that in accordance with approved schedule, aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya modernized by Sevmash shipyard since 2004 was supposed to join Indian Navy in Dec 2012. Having started sea trials early in June, the ship headed for the Barents Sea. Although problems in powerplant emerged in July, they did not hinder completion of aircraft component test program.