Russian Naval rescue ship helps in search of IAF's missing AN 32 aircraft

New Delhi: Russian Naval rescue ship Igor Belousov, which also briefly pitched in for the search of the Indian Air Force's missing AN 32 aircraft, reached Visakhapatnam on Wednesday carrying on board a delegation on a four-day visit.

The ship, which was sailing from Colombo, transited through the search area on August 1, and conjoined search operations by Indian naval ships from that afternoon to yesterday morning using its side scan sonar, defence sources said.

However, no detections were made and the ship proceeded on its journey to Visakhapatnam.

On arrival, Captain 1st Rank Maksim S Allikin, who is heading a senior Russian Navy delegation and Captain 3rd Rank Alexey Nekhodtsev, Commanding Officer Russian Naval Rescue Ship Igor Belousov called on Rear Admiral S V Bhokare, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and Rear Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, Flag Officer Submarines.

The visit of the Russian Naval Ship and the delegation will encompass interaction between personnel of both the navies in various professional, cultural, social and sports events.

Apart from engaging in friendly football and volleyball matches with the Eastern Fleet teams, the Russian Naval personnel will also visit places of interest in Visakhapatnam prior to their departure on August 6.

Inducted into the Russian Navy's Pacific Ocean Fleet search-and-rescue force in November 2015, Igor Belousov is used for search-and-rescue of crew in distressed surface vessels and submarines.

It can also be used for providing emergency response and ship salvage.

The on-board lifesaving equipment include a 700m deep-diving vehicle and two deep-diving submersibles used for search and lifting of underwater objects from the seabed and rescue of crews in distressed submarines.