Indian Navy submarine collides with fishing vessel off Goa coast

On November 21 evening, an Indian Navy submarine in transit along India's Goa coast collided with a fishing vessel, leading to the capsizing of the boat and its crew falling into the water.

The Indian Navy confirmed that the fishing vessel, Marthoma, with a crew of 13, was involved in the incident, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

The Navy immediately launched search and rescue operations, deploying six ships and aircraft. So far, 11 crew members have been rescued.

Efforts to locate the remaining two crew members are ongoing and are being coordinated with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai. Additional resources, including support from the Coast Guard, have been redirected to assist in the search. 

The cause of the incident is under investigation. The Indian Navy's underwater operations have experienced several accidents and collisions with fishing boats in the past.

In 2015, the INS Sindhughosh collided with a fishing vessel off the western coast, resulting in minor damage. In February 2014, a fire on the INS Sindhuratna led to the deaths of two officers. Additionally, in August 2013, the INS Sindhurakshak was damaged by explosions while docked, resulting in the loss of 15 sailors and three officers. In January 2008, another Kilo-class submarine, INS Sindhughosh, collided with the foreign merchant vessel MV Leeds Castle while surfacing near Mumbai.

The Indian Navy currently operates five new Scorpene-class submarines, with a sixth expected to be commissioned soon. However, many of its submarines are over 20 years old, and manufacturing programs are experiencing delays.

In contrast, China has been expanding its naval capabilities, deploying warships and submarines into the Indian Ocean. With a fleet of 355 ships and submarines, China has the largest navy, while India has a total of 130 vessels, including 16 submarines of various classes: five Kalvari (Scorpene), four Shishumar (HDW SSKs), and seven Sindhughosh-class submarines.

By Tamilla Hasanova