Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff inaugurated one major Pier and Residential Accommodations at Naval Base Karwar on 09 April 24 in the presence of Vice Admiral SJ Singh, C-in-C, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral KM Ramakrishnan, Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area, Rear Admiral Cyril Thomas, Additional Director General Seabird and other senior officers.

The Pier 3 Offshore Patrol Vessel Pier is 350m long, capable of berthing OPVs, large survey vessels and Mine Counter Measure Vessels. The pier would also provide various shore based services, such as electrical power, potable water, chilled water for air conditioning, 30 ton mobile crane and other domestic services to the ships. 

The residential accommodation consists of 2 towers of 80 flats for Married Officers (Lt Cdr to Capt) and 149 flats of Single Officers’ Accommodation along with related amenities and external services. Further, 6 towers of Type-II accommodation consisting of 360 flats for Defence Civilians were also inaugurated. 

 These infrastructure developments are part of ongoing Phase IIA of Project Seabird which will accommodate 32 ships and submarines, 23 yard crafts, a dual-use Naval Air Station, a full-fledged Naval Dockyard, four covered Dry Berths and logistics for ships and aircraft. It will also house around 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel with families, significantly boosting the local economy and industrial growth. The Naval Air Station with Civil Enclave is anticipated to enhance tourism in North Karnataka and South Goa. The ongoing construction of Phase-IIA of Project Seabird has created 7,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs. The Project aligns with ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, sourcing over 90% of materials domestically.

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 VM/SKS