INS Sindhurashak submarine, which sank after explosions and fire in Mumbai harbour on August 14 last year, is likely to be pulled out of water in the next few days by a US salvage company, which is on the job for the last couple of months. All 18 personnel on board the docked submarine were killed in the mishap.
US company Resolve India, a subsidiary of the US-based Resolve Marine Group, was awarded the `250-crore contract for salvaging the 16-year-old Russian made submarine. The contract for salvaging the submarine lying on sea bed at a depth of 30 to 40 feet was signed in January this year and once the vessel is brought out and shifted to a dry dock, the Indian Navy engineers will be able to ascertain the cause of mishap.
Incidentally, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley is scheduled to visit Mumbai on Saturday for commissioning two Indian Coast Guard fast attack craft ‘Achook’ and ‘Agrim’ and if the submarine is pulled out by that time he may be shown the wreckage, sources said here on Thursday. The Minister will also visit aircraft carrier INS Viraat.
Navy Chief Admiral Robin Dhowan, who will accompany the Minister, briefed Jaitley on the status of salvage operations, officials said here adding the US company has lifted the Kilo Class submarine from the seabed using jacks and it is expected to surface above the sea level very soon.
The Navy had instituted the mandatory board of enquiry after the mishap, the first ever involving a submarine, but could not ascertain the cause due to tons of water which had entered the vessel through gaping holes created by explosions and fire. In fact, the Navy divers found it difficult to negotiate their way inside the vessel due to dirty water and poor visibility of not more than three to four feet, sources said.
Faced with this situation, the Defence Ministry allowed the Navy in October last year to float a global tender for salvaging the submarine as only four or five companies in the world have the expertise for such operations.
Meanwhile, Dhowan gave a detailed one-hour presentation to Jaitley about issues facing the Navy, including depleting force levels of submarines and immediate requirements for meeting operational tasks. The briefing was attended by all Principal Staff Officers of the Navy, including Vice Chief Vice Admiral Sunil lanba, Deputy Chief RK Pattanaik and other three-star rank officers based here.