The Indian Navy has sent a specialised vessel for search and rescue mission of an Indonesian submarine missing since Wednesday morning with 53 crew members on board. The submarine was taking part in a naval drill off the coast of Bali.
India is one of the few countries in the world which has the specialized vessel called Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) for locating a submarine in distress at sea.
Giving details of the deployment of the DSRV inducted into the Navy in 2018, Navy officials said here it left for Bali on Thursday from Visakhapatnam to support the Indonesian Navy’s efforts to locate its diesel-powered submarine.
According to Indonesian authorities, the KRI Nanggala-402, a German-made submarine, went missing during a military exercise around the Bali Strait on Wednesday. It was reportedly engaged in an exercise 25 to 30 km north of Bali. Some other countries besides India like Singapore, Australia and Malaysia are also likely to pitch in for the search and rescue mission.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to his Indonesian counterpart General Prabowo Subianto and assured him of all support.
“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,” Rajnath tweeted.
He also said India is always committed to assist its strategic partners during times of need and that Subianto has acknowledged and appreciated India’s support to his country.
“I have already directed the @indiannavy to move its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) to Indonesia. I have also tasked the Indian Air Force to see the feasibility of induction of the DSRV intervention system by air,” he said.
Under the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Indonesia, the two navies share a strong partnership of operational cooperation.
Highlighting the features of the Indian DSRV, officials said it is fitted with latest technology and it has a side-scan sonar for locating the position of submarines in distress at sea.
The Indian Navy sent the DSRV following an alert it received through the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO) about the missing Indonesian submarine.