``We are ready to run the Vikrant museum, we have a whole lot of personnel from executive, electrical and engineering branches who have served on the ship,'' Rear Admiral K R Menon (retd), President of the Society for Preservation of Indian Maritime Heritage (SOPIMH) told Express Newsline.

The society, which consists of senior retired naval personnel, submitted a detailed proposal asking that the Vikrant be leased to it. The proposal which suggests converting the Vikrant into an offshore museum without any cost to the government was given to the defence secretary and Chief of Naval Staff early this year.

The proposal is based on an estimate that after conversion into amuseum, Vikrant will have to be manned by a team of retired naval personnel, approximately 15 officers and 100 sailors, to provide round-the-clock security and safety from fire and flooding. This is an aspect that has been left out of the proposal submitted by the Indian Navy to the state government last year. SOPIMH has said most of these personnel are to look after the daily maintenance and upkeep of the ship.

Key areas of the ship, along with original equipment and machinery, are to be preserved for public viewing. The society has estimated the cost of maintaining the 50-year-old carrier at Rs 150 crore over 15 years. This amount, to be raised from the private sector, covers the cost of dry-docking, underwater hull repairs, application of preservation paints and initial refurbishment cost for public viewing. Forwards areas of the ship, including the operations room, bridge, air direction room and engine room, will form part of the maritime museum. Rear portions of the ship are proposed to be convertedinto a heritage club, snack bars and souvenir shops, and the flight deck into a heliport. However, the society is yet to get the Ministry of Defence's reply.

If government approval to their proposal is given, the society has planned to form a joint board with serving and retired naval officers for earmarking spaces for the museum. It would then earmark items to be retained on board for public viewing, and survey and evaluate the cost of dry docking, hull repair and refurbishing the ship.

The Delhi-based SOPIMH aims at preservation of India's maritime heritage, beginning with the most visible symbol, the Vikrant. ``Later, we plan to organise ocean sailing expeditions and revive marine archeology in the country,'' RAdm Menon said.