In this December 12, 2015 photo, aicraft-carrier INS Viraat is seen during an operational demonstration witnessed by PM Narendra Modi off Kochi. Photo: Special Arrangement
INS Viraat, which is expected to be decommissioned next year, was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987 after serving the British Navy for over 30 years.
Aircraft-carrier INS Viraat on Saturday won the coveted Cock Trophy during the Western Fleet Whaler Pulling Regatta, making it the last time the warship participated in the event before she is decommissioned.
INS Viraat was declared overall winner team and awarded the trophy. In the keenly contested event, aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya emerged runner-up.
The winning ship will be called the Cock Ship till the next regatta.
Vice-Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Mumbai-based Western Naval Command, presided over the finals as the chief guest and also gave away the prizes to the winners.
The whaler is a 27-foot-long boat that is rowed by five men called ‘pullers’ using 15 to 17-foot-long oars who cover a distance of 1.3 km.
The teams practice hard for several months prior to the regatta.
INS Viraat, which is expected to be decommissioned sometime next year, had first served the British Navy for over 30 years before being bought by India. It was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987 after undergoing extensive refits.