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Indian Navy’s big base at Karwar, Karnataka code named as Project SeaBird is getting additional infrastructures.

On Tuesday the 5th of March 2024, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will travel to Karwar to inaugurate two major piers and seven residential towers comprising 320 houses for Naval Officers and Defence civilian personnel and 149 single officers’ accommodation.

According to a detail release issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Phase One of Project Seabird was designed to accommodate 10 ships and was successfully concluded in 2011.

The infrastructure comprised a breakwater, a pier capable of berthing 10 ships, a 10,000-ton ship lift and dry berth, a Naval Ship Repair Yard, logistics and armament storage facilities, accommodation for 1000 personnel, a Headquarters/Depot Organisation, and a 141-bed Naval Hospital.

The CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) approval for Phase IIA of the Project was accorded the berthing of 32 ships and submarines, along with 23 Yardcraft.

The Phase IIA initiatives are also directed towards constructing buildings and structures that adhere to the current guidelines set by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MOEF) and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
The Phase IIA marine works include piers designed to accommodate ships/ submarines, providing a berthing space of more than 6 kilometres, technical facilities, electrical substations, switch gears, and support utilities.

The centrepiece of Phase IIA Works is an iconic Covered Dry Berth, standing at a height of 75 meters, taller than the Qutub Minar in Delhi, and spread over 33000 m2 land area.

This dry berth is designed to facilitate simultaneous docking and comprehensive enclosed maintenance of up to four capital ships.

In Phase-IIA, four different townships encompassing residential accommodations, with about 10,000 dwelling units of all types for Officers, Senior and Junior Sailors and Defence Civilian staff, are being constructed.

The setting up of a green field dual-use Naval Air Station with 2700 m runway and civil-enclave will provide air support to the aircraft embarked upon various IN ships and facilitate operations of commercial aviation flights.