VISAKHAPATNAM: India's first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant had finally made its maiden foray into the wide-open sea in Bay of Bengal on Monday. The 6,000-tonne vessel commenced its sea trials off Visakhapatnam coast in the presence of defence minister Manohar Parrikar who was on his first visit to the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in Visakhapatnam after
taking charge of the post.
The much-awaited milestone marking the sea trials of INS Arihant, was achieved within a fortnight after Navy chief admiral RK Dhowan said that the nuclear submarine will soon undergo sea trials. The top brass of Indian Navy at Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) who
are stationed in the city for the past couple of days, also witnessed the historical event.
Parrikar who arrived by a special flight on Monday morning around 9 am, went to the Naval Dockyard in a convoy. During his brief visit, he was introduced to the ENC top officials followed by visit to the sea where INS Arihant took part in sea trials. Later, he left for Delhi by a special flight.