PROJECT SEABIRD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech -Defence)

Context: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will inaugurate two big piers and seven towers with 320 homes tomorrow for Navy officers and Defence civilians as part of Project Seabird in Naval Base Karwar in Karnataka.

Project Seabird:

• About: It is an ambitious naval infrastructure project that involves the establishment of a naval base at Karwar, Karnataka, on India's west coast.
• History: In the post-Indo-Pak War of 1971 scenario, India recognized the need for an additional naval base due to congestion at Mumbai Harbour, prompting security concerns for its Western Fleet.
• Foundation: Sanctioned in 1985, the naval infrastructure project at Karwar, Karnataka, began with the laying of the foundation stone on October 24, 1986, by Rajiv Gandhi.
• Project Scope: The project involves the creation of a naval base at Karwar, Karnataka, on the west coast of India, including a deep-sea harbor, breakwaters dredging, a township, a naval hospital, a dockyard uplift center, and a ship lift.
• Phase Completion: The first phase, commissioned in 2005, included critical infrastructure such as the deep-sea harbor and support facilities.
• Phase 2 Development: Phase 2 of INS Kadamba commenced in 2011, aiming to expand the base's capacity to accommodate additional warships, submarines, and a new Naval Air Station.
• Future Scale: Once fully realized, the project will establish the largest naval base in the Eastern Hemisphere, capable of hosting approximately 32 warships, 23 submarines, and multiple aircraft hangars.