India successfully transfers personnel using Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV); Navy says ‘a historic achievement’

Pic courtesy: Twitter/indiannavy

New Delhi: India on Wednesday announced that it successfully conducted transfer of personnel from a submarine to Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). The DSRV based in Visakhapatnam undertook "live mating exercise" or transfer of personnel on Sunday.

The personnel were transferred to submarine from INS Sindhudhvaj, which was the "Distress Submarine", using DSRV.

A Navy statement said, "live mating exercise is a historic achievement towards DSRV integration into the Indian Navy and would pave the way for the Indian Navy to emerge as a Submarine Rescue Provider in the Indian ocean region".

#IndianNavy Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) based at Visakhapatnam undertook live mating exercise 02Jun19 incl personnel transfer from bottomed s/m #INSSindhudhvaj, simulating as a Distress Submarine to surface using the DSRV. pic.twitter.com/XQF7ZHIuHr — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 5, 2019

It further said, "Submarine hatches on which the mating was carried out has been certified by the IN Submarine Designer i.e. DND (SDG). This is also a skill that has been newly acquired by the Indian Navy."

India had inducted DSRV last year, and is a small submarine used for rescue missions.Indian DSRV has the capability to rescue personnel from a distressed submarines up to a depth of 650 m.

India plans to emerge as a centre of regional excellence for Submarine Rescue Services.

DSRV is being already used by US, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, UK, South korea, Russia, France, Norway and Italy.