Indian Navy induct its first submarine rescue vehicle.why we need SRV ?

In a significant move to increase its capacity to rescue disabled submarines in case of accident, the Indian Navy has inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System at its Mumbai-based Western Naval Command.

Why do we need a DSRV?

Accidents of submarines 

Submarine accidents are not new to the world or to India.In August 2013 INS Sindhurakshak submarine accident led to death of 18 personnel of the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea.In 2000, the world witnessed one of the worst submarine accidents when Russia’s nuclear powered submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea.

Stepped-up Operations

India has stepped-up the Naval operations after its launch of a renewed Mission Based Deployments strategy in October 2017 in order to counter growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean Region.The new mission-based deployment involves deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications.

Growing Submarine Strength

Indian Navy currently operates 16 submarines of the Sindhughosh, Shishumar and Kalvari classes including 1 SSN, INS Chakra.In addition India achieved ‘nuclear triad’ when it deployed its first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arihant.3 more SSBN s are being built under Advanced Technology Vehicle Programme.Further Indian Navy is all set to induct 6 Scorpene-class submarines under Project-75I by 2021.High degree of inherent risk in the nature of operations undertaken by submarines, traditional methods of search and rescue at sea are ineffective for a disabled submarine in case of an accident.

About Deep Submergence Rescue System

In this backdrop, India in March 2016 sought to acquire deep sea submarine rescue system from UK.The submarine rescue systems included 2 Deep Search and Rescue Vehicles (DSRV), Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) equipment, Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) systems to operate the service. The first of the DSRV is being inducted in Western Naval Command in Mumbai and second one will be inducted in Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.The 2 DSRVs are capable of rescuing submarines upto a depth of 650 metres.The Deep Sea Rescue Vehicles is a 3rd-generation rescue system capable of to conducting safe rescue operations in any given circumstance and under widely variable sea conditions and depths. The DSRV can operate in rough conditions with wave height of 4-6 meters.India only the 6th country in the world to have a 3rd generation deep sea rescue system after Russia, USA, China, UK and Singapore.In order to operate the rescue system Indian Navy has formed a Submarine Rescue Unit (West).

Functions

DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in distressed submarines that get disabled in case of accidents.It is capable of rescuing submarines upto a depth of 650 metres and can hold around 15 people.Besides, DSRVs can also be deployed for deep sea missions like laying cables on the sea bed.