Indian Navy joins hunt to locate missing Indonesian submarine
The Indian Navy has joined in the hunt to locate Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala which was reported missing on Wednesday with its crew of 53 personnel.
Indian Navy dispatched its deep submergence rescue vessel (DSRV) Thursday to assist Tentara Nasional IndonesiaAngkatan Laut (TNI AL — Indonesian Navy) in search and rescue efforts for the submarine KRI Nanggala.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to the Defence Minister of Indonesia, General
Prabowo Subianto over the phone and “shared his pain over the news of missing submarine Nanggala and its crew members.” “I have already directed the Indian Navy to move its deep submergence rescue vessel to Indonesia. I have also tasked the Indian Air Force to see the feasibility of induction of the DSRV intervention system by air,” said Mr Singh. He said that India is extending its full support to the ongoing Indonesian rescue efforts and is always committed to assist its strategic partners during the times of necessity.
An alert was received by
the Indian Navy through International Submarine Escape and Rescue
Liaison Office, regarding the missing Indonesian submarine. The submarine was reportedly exercising in a location 25 miles North of Bali with a crew of 53 personnel.
India is amongst the few countries in the world capable of undertaking the search and rescue of a disabled submarine through a DSRV. Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine up to 1000 meters 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 sehicle — mates with the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine.
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 ROV and thereafter rescuing the crew of the submarine using the DSRV itself. In a submarine accident, rapidity of response is most crucial to the safety of life.
The Indian DSRV is the latest in terms of technology and capabilities.