An Indian Navy submarine and a fishing vessel, identified as the ‘Marthoma’, were involved in a collision approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Goa on Thursday night. The incident occurred around 8 PM while the Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine was operating at "periscope depth" during its transit between ports.
Following the collision, 11 out of the 13 fishermen aboard the fishing vessel were successfully rescued by the submarine crew, along with additional Navy ships dispatched to the site of the accident. A major search operation is currently underway to locate the two missing fishermen. The fishing vessel is believed to be registered with the Kerala fisheries authority; however, its crew members come from various states, including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The rescue efforts involve several Navy and Coast Guard ships that have been redirected to the area, complemented by aircraft support. The operations are being coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai, focused on conducting a thorough search for the missing individuals.
According to an official, the submarine sustained no significant damage and has continued its mission following the incident. Investigations into the cause of the collision are also ongoing.
The Kalvari-class submarines are part of a fleet that includes five of the six French-origin Scorpene submarines constructed at Mazagon Docks Limited in Mumbai, part of the over Rs 23,000 crore Project-75’. The sixth submarine, namedVagsheer`, is expected to be commissioned next month.
These advanced submarines boast stealth capabilities and are outfitted with long-range guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, as well as sophisticated sonar and sensor systems. They are designed to engage in a multitude of naval operations, such as anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and surveillance patrols. Furthermore, India is in the process of finalizing an agreement with France for the construction of an additional three Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Docks, projected to cost over Rs 30,000 crore.
