INS Betwa: Here is why Indian Navy is seeking foreign help to lift 3,850-tonne frigate

A day after guided missile frigate INS Betwa toppled over at Mumbai dockyard, the Indian Navy is yet to figure out a way to lift the ship and has called in foreign experts, according to a TOI report.

The Navy does not have a crane that can lift the 3,850-tonne frigate and the cranes available with the Navy can lift only 100 tonne. INS Betwa, which was commissioned in 2004, was undergoing a two-year long medium refit since April. The underwater package of the ship’s refit was on for 40 days when this accident was caused by the failure of dock-blocks mechanism.

Also Read: Two Navy men killed, 14 hurt as INS Betwa tips over during undocking

The accident has embarrassed the Navy. Naval Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba visited the accident site on Tuesday and later briefed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The spokesperson said that professionals have been called from abroad.

They will provide their assessment of the situation to salvage the ship by Friday. Nearly 25 per cent of the ship was inside water when it toppled. Most of the equipment will be kept locally off-shore while the medium refit is on. The Navy is confident of salvaging the ship and making it battle-worthy because it has all the production capabilities available indigenously.

Also Read: AFTER ACCIDENT, INS BETWA MAY NOT SET SAIL AGAIN

INS Betwa is one of the three 3800-tonne Brahmaputra class guided missile frigates in service. Produced indigenously, these ships are fitted with Barak and Uran missiles and torpedoes. Meanwhile, a board of inquiry, headed by a Rear Admiral, has been instituted to fix responsibility for the accident which left two sailors dead.

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