Navy to get two deep-sea rescue vessels

NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry cleared a proposal to procure two deep-sea rescue vessels against the backdrop of the death of 18 personnel in the sinking of INS Sindhurakshak submarine.

The need to procure Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) has long been felt by the Navy, but after the mishap in August it has been felt more.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared the Rs 1,500 crore proposal for buying two DSRVs for the Navy, defence sources said here.

Though the Russian-origin Kilo Class Sindhurakshak sunk inside the harbour and there was no way its crew could have been saved by such vessels, the DSRVs are being procured to cater to similar situations in deep seas, they said.

The meeting also cleared a Rs 13,000 crore proposal for indigenously building Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft for operations in coastal water, within 200NM of the base port.

The around 700-tonne vessels would be used by the Navy to combat the threat posed by enemy submarines operating close to its waters and would also be used for undertaking low intensity maritime operations and laying of anti-ship and anti-submarine mines, they said.

The vessels are expected to be built by the PSU shipyard GRSE which has sought the design from Indian manufacturers.