February 20, 2012: The Indian Navy is seeking to prevent shipyard workers from taking and posting cell phone photos of India's first locally built aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant. Noting that many other nations have prevented misuse of cell phone cameras by shipyard employees, the managers of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) are instituting the new rules on their workers. Some photos are supposed to have already been taken by workers on the Vikrant but have not been posted (as far as CSL management can tell). The Indian Navy does not want details of the interior of their new carrier showing up on the Internet. The new rules restrict who can use cell phones in the work areas or even have a camera equipped cell phone with them.
Construction of the INS Vikrant began three years ago but was delayed a bit because Russia was late in supplying the high-grade steel needed for the hull. The Vikrant was not supposed to leave dry dock yet but the dock was needed for another project. Construction will go on, with pipes, conduits, and other fittings installed. Later this year, Vikrant will return to dry dock to have its engines and other major equipment installed. This 40,000 ton vessel will be ready for sea trials by 2015. The INS Vikrant has a ski-jump deck, like the INS Vikramaditya, and is designed to carry 29 jet fighters and ten helicopters.
