The Aircraft Carrier, INS Viraat started for its final sailing from Naval Dockyard Mumbai to Kochi this afternoon. <br/><br/>According to an official communiqu' from Indian Navy issued from Mumbai, this is the last sailing under its own propulsion, as INS Viraat is slated for decommissioning later this year.<br/><br/>Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command and other senior officers of the command, visited the ship and interacted with the crew prior to its departure. <br/><br/>The carrier was escorted out of harbour by Fast Interceptor Craft and helicopters from the Western Naval Command. The ship will be towed back to Mumbai on completion of Expense Reimbursement Direct Deposit, ERDD, for the decommissioning ceremony later this year. <br/><br/>INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 12 May 1987. Under the Indian Flag, various aircrafts have flown more than 22,034 hours from the decks of INS Viraat.<br/><br/>The Ship played a major role in the Operation Jupiter in 1989 for Indian Peace Keeping operations in Sri Lanka and also for Operation Vijay in the year 1999 during Kargil War. <br/><br/>The ship has also participated in various international joint exercises like Malabar with US Navy, Varuna with French Navy, Naseem-Al-Bahar with Oman Navy and has been an integral element of all major naval exercises.