Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, met Vice Admiral SJ Singh, C-in-C, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral KM Ramakrishnan, Commander of the Karnataka Naval Area on 09 April 2024. Inaugurated a major pier and residential complex at Naval Base Karwar in the presence of Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Cyril Thomas, Additional Director General Seabird and other senior officers.
Pier 3, the offshore patrol vessel pier, is 350 meters long. The quay is capable of accommodating OPVs, large survey vessels and mine counter major vessels. The wharf will also provide various shore based services like electricity, potable water, chilled water for air conditioning, 30 tonne mobile crane and other domestic services to ships etc.
The residential complex consists of two towers of 80 flats for married officers (from Lieutenant Commander to Captain) and 149 flats for unmarried officers along with associated facilities and external services. Additionally, six towers of Type-II housing comprising 360 flats for defense civilians were also inaugurated.
These infrastructure developments are part of 'Phase IIA of Project Seabird', which includes 32 ships and submarines, 23 yard craft, a dual-use naval air station, a full-fledged naval dockyard, four covered dry berths and Logistics related facilities will be available for ships and aircraft. In this, about 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel will also live with their families, which will give a great boost to the local economy and industrial development. The Naval Air Station with civil enclave is expected to increase tourism in North Karnataka and South Goa. The ongoing construction work under 'Phase-IIA of Project Seabird' has generated 7,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs. The project is in line with the spirit of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', with more than 90 per cent of the materials being sourced domestically.