Diving deep:A file photo of the Navy’s deep submergence rescue vessel.Special ArrangementSpecial Arrangement  

The Indian Navy on Thursday dispatched its deep submergence rescue vessel (DSRV) from Visakhapatnam to support the Indonesian Navy in the search and rescue efforts for its submarine KRI Nanggala that went missing on Wednesday with 53 personnel aboard.

“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,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Twitter. “I have already directed the Indian Navy to move its 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 added.

On April 21, an alert was received by the Navy through the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO), regarding the missing Indonesian submarine, the Navy said in a statement. The submarine was reportedly exercising in a location 25 miles north of Bali, it stated.

The DSRV departed by sea and has to cover a distance of approximately 2,500 nautical miles, a Navy official said.

Air Chief Marhal Hadi Tjahjanto, Commander of Indonesian armed forces, said KRI Nanggala 402 was participating in a torpedo firing exercise when it went missing. The Indonesian Defence Ministry said the submarine lost contact after being granted clearance to dive.

The Indonesian Navy launched a massive search and rescue effort for the missing submarine and requested assistance from countries in the region. The 53 personnel onboard includes 49 crew members, three gunners and its commander.

Specialised capability

India is amongst the few countries in the world capable of undertaking search and rescue of a disabled submarine through a DSRV, the Navy said.

“Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine up to 1,000-metre depth utilising its state-of-the-art side scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle,” it stated, adding that after the submarine is successfully located, another sub module of DSRV — the Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) — links with the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine.

The Singapore Navy has already pressed its rescue vessel while Australia too has offered assistance.