New Delhi, Jan 7 : Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the largest naval academy in Asia at Ezhimala on January 8.

The Naval Academy at Ezhimala located in Kannur (Cannanore) district of Kerala, will be the premier officer-training establishment of the Indian Navy.

Commencing June 2009, all officers inducted into the Indian Navy, under various schemes, will undergo basic training at this academy.

The academy will have state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and workshops, a well-stocked library and a modern auditorium.

Physical-fitness training-facilities include indoor swimming and diving pools, an athletics track and stadium, a variety of playfields and courts, a firing range and a watermanship-training centre with several types of boats. A comprehensive IT network, interconnecting various facilities is also being set-up.

While Naval Orientation Courses are being conducted at Ezhimala since 2005, full-fledged training will commence from June 2009.

The Academy would be conducting a four-year `B Tech' programme for all newly inducted trainees. Courses would be offered in `Electronics and Communications' and `Mechanical Engineering'.

Naval Orientation Courses of 20 weeks duration for other Direct Entry schemes (after graduation) in various branches of the Navy will also be conducted.

The total envisaged strength of the academy in June 2009 would be approximately 450 trainees, which would progressively increase to about 1100 trainees by 2013. This would include officer-trainees from the Indian Coast Guard, friendly foreign countries. (ANI)