Submarines to undergo extensive checks, says Antony

Standard operating procedures to be reviewed to enhance safety

The Indian Navy has ordered extensive checks of the weapon-safety systems in all conventional submarines besides reviewing the standard operating procedures for weapon loading, firing and storage inside boats.

“Extensive checks on weapon-related safety systems and audit of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on all operational submarines of the Indian Navy have been ordered,” Defence Minister A K Antony said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. He made the statement while presenting a suo motu statement on the fire and explosion onboard the INS Sindhurakshak at Mumbai’s naval dockyard in the intervening night of August 13 and 14.

Preliminary investigations indicate the massive explosion was due to the possible ignition of armament. The cause of ignition, however, is yet to be established, he said.

The ill-fated submarine was armed with Russian Klub missiles and torpedoes. It remains unclear which of these weapons were responsible for the fire that killed 18 crew members and sunk the 2300-tonne boat.

Forensic evidence has been collected and a Board of Inquiry has been set up to investigate and establish the cause of the accident.

The Navy is now revisiting the SOPs followed in the remaining nine Kilo class (Sindhughosh class) and four HDW (Shisumar class) boats. The emphasis is to review the laid down norms and to find out if they are being adhered to. The exercise will cover only the weapon loading, firing and storage of the submarines.

Inducted into service in December 1997, the INS Sindhurakshak had completed a Rs 815.66-crore refit at Zvezdochka shipyard in Russia in which it received new sensors and underwent structural modifications, extending its life by 15 years.

It returned on April 29 and was to sail out on August 15 for a patrolling mission.
Antony said globally renowned professional salvage agencies had been approached and that they would be undertaking the survey. Russia has offered help for the operation. The refit and upgrade of the submarine was undertaken in Russia.