News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Navy

  • Cyclone Tauktae: Indian Navy, Coast Guard rescue 317 people from two barges

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Battling extreme weather, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have so far rescued 317 people on board two barges that went adrift in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai hours before Cyclone Tauktae made landfall on the Gujarat coast, but 390 more remain stranded or missing from offshore facilities, an official said on Tuesday.

    Three barges and an oil rig with 707 personnel on board had gone adrift on Monday.

    These included accommodation barge P305 with 273 persons, cargo barge GAL Constructor with 137 personnel on board, accommodation barge SS-3 with 196 personnel on board and the Sagar Bhushan oil rig with 101 personnel on board, a Navy official said.

    While all the 137 people on board the cargo barge GAL Constructor have been rescued, 180 of the 273 onboard P305 have been rescued so far, the official said.

    “Two Coast Guard Chetak helicopters operating from the Coast Guard Air station in Daman rescued personnel on board the GAL Constructor. One more Chetak helicopter was also pressed into service for the SAR operations,” he said.

    “Navy ships INS Beas, INS Betwa and INS Teg joined INS Kochi and INS Kolkata for undertaking Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for Barge P-305, which sank 35 nautical miles from Mumbai in the Mumbai Offshore Development Area,” the Navy spokesperson said.

    SAR has also been augmented with P8I and naval helicopters, who continue to undertake an aerial search in the area.

    Since the commencement of the SAR from Monday, 180 survivors have been recovered so far, he said.

    “In another operation, a Navy Seaking helicopter was launched to rescue the crew of GAL Constructor, which ran aground north of Mumbai. It rescued 35 crew members,” he said.

    #CycloneTauktae #NationFirst Update on grounded barge GAL CONSTRUCTOR. Effective coordinated rescue operations resulted in saving of all 137 precious lives from the distressed barge. Rescue mission accomplished. We Protect वयम रक्षाम‌: pic.twitter.com/S16FPlr7ly
    — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) May 18, 2021

    SAR efforts are also in progress off the coast of Gujarat for three vessels – Support Station 3, Great Ship Aditi and Drill Ship Sagar Bhushan, which are 15-20 nautical miles south-east off Gujarat coast (Pipavav), he said.

    Pipavav port, an all-weather port located 152 nautical miles from Nhava Sheva port near Mumbai,” the official said.

    “Navy ship INS Talwar has arrived in the area and taken over the duties of ‘On-Scene Coordinator’ for coordination of the SAR effort. The Western Naval Command, in coordination with ONGC and DG shipping, has diverted five tugs to render assistance.”

    “Great Ship Aditi and Support Station 3 have been able to drop anchor. Meanwhile, OSV’s Samudra Sevak and SV Cheel are connected to manoeuvre Sagar Bhushan, and the situation at present appears to be stable. The sea continues to be extremely rough with winds of 25-30 knots (approx 35-55 kmph), posing a challenge to the ships and aircraft involved in SAR operations,” the Navy official said.

    Images circulated by the Navy showed destroyer INS Kolkata picking up two survivors overnight from the barge P305.

    The Navy on Tuesday said the barge has sunk.

    Dramatic TV visuals also showed personnel on board what looked like a sinking rig being rescued.

    There was no confirmation from Navy officials on the vessel’s identity.

    Navy ships were deployed on Monday after receipt of a request for assistance for barge ‘P305’ adrift off Heera oil fields in Bombay high area with 273 personnel on board.

    The oil fields are around 70 km southwest of Mumbai.

    On Tuesday, a Navy helicopter brought some of the rescuees to INS Shikra (formerly known as INS Kunjali) naval air station at Colaba in south Mumbai.

    State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had on Monday said barge P305 with 261 personnel deployed for offshore drilling got de-anchored and began drifting because of the cyclonic storm Tauktae.

    A barge is a long flat-bottomed boat either under its power or towed by another.

    An accommodation barge is of shallow draft (vessel whose keel is not far below the waterline) and is used to accommodate personnel on projects where shore accommodation is not available.

    Offshore accommodation barges are fully autonomous and used mainly in the oil and gas industries.

    The ONGC had said the barges P305 and GAL Contractor were hired by them and personnel are of the contractor Afcons, owned by the Shapporji Pallonji Group of Cyrus Mistry.

    The barges were anchored to safety ahead of the cyclone but got drifted and de-anchored due to the gusty winds that have made the Arabian Sea violent.

    “We have two barges deployed at the ONGC rigs. Barge No. P305 has personnel onboard and 137 people on the other. Unfortunately, both were de-anchored by the powerful cyclonic winds. However, with the help of the Navy, both the barges have been steadied and all the 410 personnel are reported safe as of 1530 hours,” an Afcons spokesman had said on Monday.

    The Navy on Tuesday morning deployed the P-8I long- range, multimission maritime patrol aircraft to join the search and rescue operations, the Navy official said.

  • Cyclone Tauktae: NDRF evacuates thousands in Gujarat, Kerala, Daman and Diu; Navy rescues 60 people onboard barge adrift off Mumbai

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The NDRF on Monday said it has evacuated thousands of stranded people in the last three days in Gujarat, Kerala and Daman and Diu in view of Cyclone Tauktae.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that Tauktae has now intensified into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm”.

    It is likely to reach the Gujarat coast by Monday evening and cross the state coast between 8 pm and 11 pm.

    “Teams are continuously cutting and clearing heavy trees and electric poles that have been uprooted and crashed on roads. Extensive efforts are being made to bring the situation to normal in the affected states.”

    “In the last three days, the force has evacuated thousands of stranded people to safer places in Gujarat, Kerala and Daman and Diu and it is assisting district administration in mass evacuation of the people from the coast line,” an NDRF spokesperson said.

    The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked a total of 101 teams, with 47 personnel in each, for undertaking relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of the cyclone in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

    Twenty-two teams out of these have been kept as reserve at various NDRF bases in the country and can be airlifted at a short notice, a senior officer said.

    The spokesperson added that a total of 44 teams “are deployed in Gujarat where the landfall of the cyclone is anticipated between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during the night of May 17.”

    He added that the headquarters of the force here is closely monitoring the situation through its 24×7 control room and is in close touch with state authorities to tackle this “big challenge” that has come when the coronavirus pandemic is raging.

    The Indian Navy on Monday night evacuated 60 people out of 400 onboard two barges off the Mumbai coast in a challenging sea condition as Cyclone Tauktae roared up the western coast, officials said.

    The Navy deployed three of its frontline warships to rescue the people onboard the two barges.

    Navy officials said 60 people from one of the two barges were rescued around 11 pm.

    Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said search and rescue operations would continue through the night for the remaining people.

    The ships deployed to extend assistance to the two barges are INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Talwar, Navy officials said.

    “On receipt of a request for assistance for a barge ‘P305’ adrift off Heera oil fields in Bombay high area with 273 personnel onboard, INS Kochi was swiftly sailed with a despatch for search and rescue assistance,” the spokesperson said.

    He said INS Talwar had also been deployed for the search and rescue operation.

    “In response to another SOS received from barge ‘GAL Constructor’ with 137 people onboard about 8 nautical miles from Mumbai, INS Kolkata has been sailed with despatch to render assistance,” Commander Madhwal said.

    He said several other ships and aircraft had also been readied for HARD (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) operations in the wake of Cyclone Tauktae.

    Earlier in the day, a naval helicopter rescued four crew members of an Indian vessel named the crew of ‘Coromondel Supporter IX’ that was adrift in the Arabian sea, according to the spokesperson.

    He said rough seas due to Cyclone Tauktae resulted in flooding of the vessel’s machinery compartments, rendering it without propulsion and power supply.

    “In a swift response to SOS by an Indian vessel adrift in the Arabian Sea, a naval helicopter was dispatched for rescuing the stranded crew of Indian flagged Tug ‘Coromondel Supporter IX’, which was adrift North West of Mangalore, Karnataka,” he said.

    He said the helicopter was sent after attempts to rescue the crew by a boat failed.

    About the Navy’s response to deal with the fallout of the cyclone, the Navy spokesperson said 11 diving teams had been kept on standby for deployment in case of any request from state authorities.

    He said 12 flood rescue teams and medical teams had also been kept ready for immediate response and deployment.

    “Repair and rescue teams have been formed to undertake urgent infrastructural repairs post-cyclone if required,” he said.

    “Various ships along the Western seaboard are standby with aid and relief material for immediate assistance to affected areas as required and to provide assistance to fishing boats/ small boats stranded due to rough weather,” he said.

    Commander Madhwal said the Navy’s maritime reconnaissance aircraft on surveillance were continuously broadcasting cyclone warnings to the fisherfolk.

  • Fire on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya; All personnel safe, fire doused: Indian Navy spokesperson

    Fire was reported on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on Saturday morning. It is said that the incident was minor.

    Fire was doused and all personnel are safe.

    According to Defence PRO, Mumbai, “There was an incident of minor fire onboard INS Vikramaditya, which is at Karwar harbour, early morning today. No major damage has been reported. An inquiry into the incident is being ordered.”

    Meanwhile an inquiry has been ordered.

  • COVID-19: Indian Navy and Air Force widen operations for oxygen availability

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The massive requirement of oxygen availability across the country for COVID-19 patients has acquired the focus of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Navy, who have raised the scale of their operations.

    Naval warships have been ferrying oxygen-laden containers from friendly foreign countries and Air Force is flying such medical equipment not only to India from abroad but also is distributing it to various locations within the country.

    The navy has deployed its nine warships under the Operation Samudra Setu. The deployed ships – INS Talwar, INS Kolkata, INS Airavat, INS Kochi, INS Tabar, INS Trikand, INS Jalashwa and INS Shardul – will ferry oxygen containers/cylinders/concentrators and related equipment from friendly foreign countries.

    Giving details Indian Navy spokesperson Commander (Cdr) Vivek Madhwal  said, “While one has already delivered oxygen at New Mangalore, five others are homeward bound and will reach between 9-11 May. Three warships will also be embarking on fetching oxygen and medical Supplies.” The overall breakup of oxygen and medical supplies delivered/embarked includes 11 x 27 MT LMO (Liquid Medical Oxygen) Filled Cryogenic Containers, 2300 Oxygen Cylinders, 57 Oxygen concentrators, 08 x 20 T empty cryogenic oxygen cylinders, 3150 Empty oxygen cylinders, 10,000 – Rapid Antigen Test kits and 450 PPE kits.

    Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Singapore are some of the friendly countries which made the supplies available.

    Loading of oxygen containers and other medical supplies has also been planned on INS Tarkash, INS Shardul and INS Jalashwa from Doha, Kuwait and Muara, Brunei respectively in the coming days, told Cdr Madhwal.

    The IAF has deployed its transport fleet including the 50 aircraft and 20 helicopters. The fleet of C-17 and IL-76 are being used to fly back equipment from abroad. It has intensified its efforts to aid the civil administration in tackling the current COVID-19 situation by ferrying oxygen containers and medical equipment.

    Indian Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) Ashish Moghe said, “IAF aircrafts conducted 59 international sorties to airlift 72 cryogenic oxygen storage containers of 1,233 MT total capacity along with 1,252 empty oxygen cylinders.”

    The containers and cylinders were procured from Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, UK, Germany, Belgium and Australia. In addition, the C-17 and IL-76 aircraft have been tasked to airlift cryogenic oxygen containers, oxygen generators and ventilators from Israel and Singapore.

    “As on May 7, 2021, the C-17 aircraft of IAF have conducted 400 sorties from within the country, including 351 to airlift 252 oxygen tankers of total capacity of 4,904 Metric Tonnes (MT),” said Wg Cdr Moghe.

    The cities covered were Jamnagar, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panagarh, Indore, Ranchi, Agra, Jodhpur, Begumpet, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Surat, Raipur, Udaipur, Mumbai, Lucknow, Nagpur, Gwalior, Vijaywada, Baroda, Dimapur and Hindan. In addition to the equipment, there is also requirement of trained medical professionals to run  COVID hospitals and Armed forces have deployed a significant number of its personnel for COVID Duty.

    Towards capacity enhancement, in the form of skilled manpower and to bolster the fight against the COVID pandemic, a contingent of 41 naval personnel from Western Naval Command, comprising medical officers, nursing officers, paramedics and support staff have been deputed to the PM Cares COVID Hospital, Dhanvantari at Ahmedabad on 6 May.

    This is in addition to a 57-member naval medical team already positioned at the hospital on 29 April. With the present augmentation, the total manpower provided to the hospital by the Navy has gone up to 210. “The team is being deployed for a period of two months and will assist the hospital administration in handling covid patients,” said Cdr Vivek Madhwal.

    The Indian Navy on Friday established a COVID Care Centre at its Training Establishment, INS Chilka to treat COVID positive patients of Khurda district, Odisha. The 150-bed isolation centre with additional 15 bed oxygen facility at INHS Nivarini, the naval hospital, is all geared up for treating mild symptomatic COVID positive Patients. The Centre was inaugurated by Khurda collector SK Mohanty.

  • COVID-19: Indian Navy deploys seven warships to bring liquid oxygen from abroad

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Indian Navy has surged its operational commitments towards the country’s fight against the COVID pandemic. While seven Indian Navy Ships were deployed by Saturday for Operation Samudra Setu II more are being prepared to join soon.

    Giving details of deployment Commander Vivek Madhwal said, “In support of the nation’s fight against Covid-19 and as part of operation ‘Samudra Setu II’, seven Indian Naval ships viz. Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, Trikand, Jalashwa, and Airavat have been deployed for shipment of liquid medical oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment from various countries.”

    Also, the Navy has kept enough room to add to the operations as per the future needs said Madhwal. “Indian Navy also has the surge capability, to deploy more ships when the need arises to further nation’s fight against COVID-19,” he said.

    From the Southern Naval Command, the Landing Ship Tank INS Shardul is being readied to join the Operation within 48 hours, added the Navy. Similarly, on the Eastern seaboard, INS Airavat too has been diverted for the task, while INS Jalashwa, the LPD which played a key role during op Samudra Setu last year was pulled out of maintenance, readied, and sailed out to augment the effort.

    INS Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, and Trikand are part of the Western Naval Command. INS Kolkata and INS Talwar, mission deployed in the Persian Gulf, were the first batch of ships that were immediately diverted for the task and entered the port of Manama, Bahrain on 30 April 2021.

    As for the details of the task, INS Talwar, with 40 MT Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO), is headed back home. INS Kolkata has proceeded to Doha, Qatar for embarking on medical supplies and will subsequently head to Kuwait for embarking on Liquid Oxygen tanks.

    INS Airavat is scheduled to enter Singapore for embarking on Liquid oxygen tanks and INS Jalashwa is standing by in the region to embark on medical stores at short notice. The second batch of ships comprising Kochi, Trikand, and Tabar mission deployed in the Arabian sea has also been diverted to join the national effort.

    But, the diversion of such a large number of mission deployed ships has not taken place at the cost of operational preparedness. 

    Commander Madhwal said, “Indian Naval ships continue to maintain the combat readiness and operational deployment. the flexibility and capability of a role change of a ‘mission deployed’ ship enables Indian Navy to react to any situation which is being built up and therefore is able to rapidly re-deploy to meet any contingencies such as the present requirement.”

    Indian Air Force has committed its 50 aircraft and 20 helicopters for the same task.

    It may be recalled that Operation Samudra Setu was launched last year by the Navy and around 4000 Indian citizens stranded in neighboring countries, amidst COVID 19 outbreak, were successfully repatriated back to India. 

  • COVID: Indian Navy launches Samudra Setu-II for shipment of oxygen-filled containers to India

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Indian Navy has launched Operation Samudra Setu-II on Friday to augment the ongoing national mission for meeting the Oxygen requirements (#OxygenExpress). 

    The Indian Naval warships deployed under the mission will undertake shipment of liquid oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment in support of the nation’s fight against COVID-19. 

    Giving Details, Indian Navy Spokesperson said, “Two ships INS Kolkata and INS Talwar have entered the port of Manama, Bahrain for embarking and transporting 40MT of liquid oxygen to Mumbai.” 

    INS Jalashwa is enroute to Bangkok and INS Airavat to Singapore for similar missions, added the spokesperson.

    Last year Indian Navy had launched Operation Samudra Setu as part of the Vande Bharat Mission and repatriated approx 4000 (3992) stranded and distressed Indian citizens from Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Iran. 

    Within the country, the Indian Navy deployed its Medical Contingent from its three Commands to Ahmedabad to bolster the availability of trained manpower in the 900 bedded Dhanvantari Covid Hospital giving care to the civil population. 

    The hospital put up by the Gujarat govt required an urgent infusion of trained medical personnel and this contingent will enable admission of more patients in the days to come. 

    “A 76 member Naval Medical Contingent comprising of 10 Medical Officers including a Surgeon and an Anesthetist, 12 Nursing Officers, 34 Paramedics and 20 Battle Field Nursing Assistants (BFNA) was air lifted from 5 Naval hospitals around the country.” Navy Informed.

  • Indian Navy readies 3 hospitals with oxygen beds for COVID-19 patients

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command (WNC) has readied three of its hospitals with oxygen beds for COVID-19 patients, an official said on Thursday.

    The Navy has made arrangements for COVID-19 patients at INHS Jeevanti in Goa, INHS Patanjali in Karwar, Karnataka and INHS Sandhani in Mumbai, an official release issued here stated.

    Facilities have been set up in the Navy’s premises in Mumbai to provide basic amenities to migrant labourers so that they are not compelled to travel to their hometowns amid the pandemic, the release said.

    The Naval authorities are also in touch with civil administration and all preparatory actions have been stepped up to offer any COVID-19 contingency assistance, if requested, the statement said.

    INHS Asvini in Mumbai has readied composite teams for deployment at short notice, including medical and non-medical persons trained as “Battle Field Nursing Assistants” to man hospitals being set up for COVID-19 care in different parts of the country.

    As COVID-19 cases surge in the county, three naval hospitals under the Western Naval Command viz., INHS Jeevanti, Goa, INHS Patanjali, Karwar and INHS Sandhani, Mumbai have been kept ready for use by the civil administration. @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/7JG4g5MbKH
    — रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) April 29, 2021

    Meanwhile, Naval authorities at Karwar have made arrangements for aiding nearly 1,500 migrant labourers by supplying of essential items, rations and basic healthcare, it was stated.

    According to the statement, INHS Patanjali, the first Armed Forces hospital to treat civilian COVID-19 patients last year, is prepared to receive civilian patients again if there is any emergent requirement.

    In addition to earmarking some COVID-19 oxygen beds for civilians at INHS Jeevanti, Headquarters Goa Naval Area, the Navy is exploring the provision of providing oxygen to civil hospitals based on requests received from the administration, it was stated.

    The Gujarat Naval Area has offered support to the civil administration for transporting critical medical stores or equipment to COVID-19 affected areas, setting up community kitchens for the poor and other technical help.

    Presently, all Navy hospitals are vaccinating service personnel, their dependents, defence civilians and their dependents as per guidelines.

    Once people in the age group of 18 to 44 are vaccinated starting May 1, the Navy will also consider the feasibility of extending the vaccination facility to civil population in the vicinity.

    Even as the Command is geared up to offer all possible assistance to civil administration in tackling the health crisis, the operational naval units continue to be mission- deployed towards ensuring security and stability in the maritime domain, it was stated.

  • Air Force, Navy ferry oxygen tanks, medical staff for Covid fight

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU: The Union Government is deploying every available resource to tide over the oxygen emergency in the country. Given the urgency, the Railways, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy have been pressed into massive Covid-19 relief efforts.

    “One C-17 aircraft of the IAF left for Changi International Airport, Singapore, from the Hindon Air Base at 2 am on April 24. It is on its way to offload four empty cryogenic oxygen containers at Panagarh in West Bengal,” said IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ashish Moghe.

    “Another C-17 left Hindon Air Base for the Lohegaon Air Base in Pune for loading two empty cryogenic oxygen container trucks which were then flown to Jamnagar Air Base. The same -C17 aircraft is currently on its second shuttle from Pune to Jamnagar, with a load of two more empty containers,” he added.

    One C-17 aircraft transported two empty containers from Jodhpur to Jamnagar early on Saturday. One IAF Chinook helicopter and one AN-32 transport aircraft took Covid testing equipment from Jammu to Leh and from Jammu to Kargil, respectively. “The equipment consisted of bio -safety cabinets, centrifuges and stabilisers. These machines have been made by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and now given to the Union Territory of Ladakh to enhance testing,” he added.

    Meanwhile, taking into account the rise in Covid-19 cases in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands, the Southern Naval Command Headquarters at Kochi has deputed its Naval Ship INS Sharda as ‘Oxygen Express’ to ferry oxygen cylinders to the islands and also to bring back empty cylinders to the mainland for refilling them,” said Defence chief spokesperson Commander Mehul Karnik.

    He added that a medical team comprising of two doctors, two nursing assistants, along with essential medical supplies, have also been provided through naval resources to augment medical support to the islands.

  • India joins search for missing Indonesian submarine

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Indian Navy dispatched its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) on Thursday to assist the Indonesian Navy in the search for one of its submarines that went missing on Wednesday.   

    “On 21 April, an alert was received by Indian Navy through International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO), regarding the missing Indonesian submarine,” Indian Navy said in a statement.

    India is one of the few countries that have a naval force capable of complex missions in the deep waters.

    “The site of the accident is almost 2500 nautical miles away, and the ship may take almost a week to reach there.”

    Shipping Corporation of India’s vessel Sabarmati has set sail along with the DSRV as the latter needs supporting equipment to operate.

    “SCI Sabarmati will be the platform on board which controls, navigation, and monitoring will be performed,” sources said. 

    The Indonesian submarine went missing with a 53-member crew off the coast of northern Bali. 

  • Indian Navy joins the search for missing Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy dispatched its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) on Thursday to assist the Indonesian Navy in search and rescue efforts of its Submarine KRI Nanggala. The Submarine was reported missing on Wednesday.Indian Navy in its statement said, “On 21 April, an alert was received by Indian Navy through International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO), regarding the missing Indonesian submarine.” An officer added, “We have sailed the mother ship with the DSRV within 24 hours of getting the information.”

    It requires a special capability to operate in deep waters which only few countries have and India is one of them. “The site of accident is almost 2500 nautical miles away and the ship may take almost a week to reach the site of accident,” it said.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to his Indonesian counterpart on the issue. “Spoke to the Defence Minister of Indonesia, General Prabowo Subianto over the phone and shared my pain over the news of missing submarine Nanggala and its crew members. India is extending its full support to the ongoing Indonesian rescue efforts,” he tweeeted.Saying that the government is always committed to assist its strategic partners during the times of necessity, Rajnath added, “General Subianto has acknowledged and appreciated India’s support to Indonesia.”He also tweeted of sending the DSRV intervention system, equipment and machinery which can help in the operations, by air. The officials of the two countries are in touch at the d diplomatic level for further consultations. To operate DSRV it needs supporting equipment.

    Shipping Corporation of India vessel Sabarmati along with the DSRV has been sailed. For DSRV to operate SCI Sabarmati will be the platform onboard which control, navigation and monitoring will be performed. The submarine was reportedly exercising in a location 25 miles North of Bali with a crew of 53 personnel. The Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut (TNI AL – Indonesian Navy) currently operates a fleet of five submarines. The missing submarine was commissioned in Indonesian Navy in 1981. Its previous major refit was done in South Korea in 2012. Talking about the rescue mission the Navy said, “Submarine rescue is required to be undertaken when a submarine is reported to be missing or sunk and specialised equipment is required for underwater search to locate the disabled submarine and rescue the personnel who are trapped inside the submarine.”

    India is amongst the few countries in the world capable of undertaking Search and Rescue of a disabled submarine through a DSRV. Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine upto 1000 m depth utilising its state-of-the-art Side Scan Sonar (SSS) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

    After the submarine is successfully located, another sub module of DSRV- the Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) – mates with the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine.

    Under the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Indonesia, Indian Navy and Indonesian Navy share a strong partnership of operational cooperation. The two navies have been exercising regularly in the past and have developed synergy and interoperability which is considered important for the present mission. Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) Capability

    This system has a Side Scan Sonar for locating the position of the submarine in distress at sea, providing immediate relief by way of posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and thereafter rescuing the crew of the submarine using the DSRV itself.

    In a submarine accident, rapidity of response is most crucial to safety of life. To ensure early mobilisation, the System has been procured in a Flyaway configuration which permits rapid transportation of the Rescue System from the base to the exact location of the distressed submarine by transportation using air/land/sea vessels. The Indian DSRV is the latest in terms of technology and capabilities. Supplied by M/s James Fishes Defence, UK these are based on the West and East Coast of India respectively to provide redundancy, high operational availability and early response to deal with a submarine contingency.