India is exploring more options for a new deep-sea rescue ship to help provide assistance to the submarines in distress and also undertake searches. A lot of talks has been going around but nothing is firm as of now.

Photo Credit : BW Defence,

India is exploring more options for a new deep-sea rescue ship to help provide assistance to the submarines in distress and also undertake searches. A lot of talks has been going around but nothing is firm as of now.

 For long the navy has operated without capable submarines and have to be dependent on American rescue equipment. This was made evident when during the recent search for missing Coast Guard Dornier CG 791. While the Navy used its submarines and hydrographic vessels to pinpoint the location of the aircraft that had settled on to the seabed at a depth of 950 m, it still required assistance. 

There have been specific requests from the Navy itself and they have been looking into rescue ships. Presentations have been made to the Indian Navy by  Alexander Buzakov, Chief Executive Officer of Russia’s Admiralty Shipyards.  The Navy is looking for a platform to assist both nuclear and conventional submarines in trouble.

The first class rescue ship will be commissioned this year. It will help submarines in distress with a capability of launching a manned mission to the depth of over 300 meters.