The Maharashtra government has also shown a keen interest in acquiring the decommissioned aircraft carrier Viraat in order to convert her into a museum.
“We too have formally shown interest in the aircraft carrier. If things materialise as we hope, we would find a permanent berth for her off the Vasai-Virar creek,” Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal said.
Andhra Pradesh and Goa governments had earlier shown interest in Viraat.
The Maharashtra government’s earlier plan to acquire the aircraft carrier Vikrant had failed and the ship had to be scrapped.
Viraat is currently docked in the Mumbai harbour after her retirement from service of the Indian Navy.
The British-made INS Viraat was decommissioned on 6 March 2017 after nearly four decades of service.
The Guinness record holder for being the longest-serving warship in the world, INS Viraat had served for 30 years in the Indian Navy and 27 years in the Royal Navy.
Under the Indian Flag, the ship was instrumental in Operation Parakram between India and Pakistan, as well as the Sri Lankan Peace Keeping operations.
Its last operational deployment was for participation in the International Fleet Review in February 2016.
Viraat displaced nearly 28,500 tonnes and is capable of operating Sea Harrier jump jets, a Short Take off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft, and virtually all types of naval helicopters.
The 12-degree ramp on the bows is the most striking visual feature of the ship and it helps to improve the safety factor, as well as the radius of operation/payload carrying capacity of the Sea Harriers.
The ship is equipped with a close-in weapon system for self-defence.
The Computer Aided Action Information System (CAAIS) gives the command a complete picture of the tactical scenario based on the information fed to the computer from all on-board sensors.
This enables rapid decision-making as reaction time at sea is minimal and helps in the destruction of hostile platforms before they can threaten her. (Deccan Herald)
