Navy begins salvage efforts

The Naval dockyard has started salvage operations to retrieve the sunk frigate INS Vindhyagiri, an indigenously built frontline frigate of the Indian Navy. Navy officials said salvage operations would be conducted in a phased manner.

The Naval dockyard has started salvage operations to retrieve the sunk frigate INS Vindhyagiri, an indigenously built frontline frigate of the Indian Navy. Navy officials said salvage operations would be conducted in a phased manner.

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Late Monday evening, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) established contact with the Navy and the Coast Guard over concerns regarding an oil spill. “We were told there is no emergency.And if there is one, both agencies have their own teams who will act on it,” said YB Sontake, in charge of hazardous waste, MPCB.

The warship had collided with a merchant vessel MV Nord Lake around 4.45 pm near Sunk Rock Light House off the coast on Sunday evening. The ship sank on Monday evening.

Captain Manohar Nambiar, chief defence spokesperson (Port Zone), said, “There was a lot of smoke coming from the ship, so we were unable to determine the exact area that bore the brunt of the collision. Around 1.30 pm on Monday, the fire was brought under control,” Nambiar said.

Navy personnel will now inspect the ship and determine the area of damage. “First water will be pumped out of the compartments. Then the area from where the water is seeping in will be plugged,” Nambiar said.

“Once this is done, and the high tide comes in, the ship will start floating again,” Nambiar added. Nambiar said the Naval dockyard had the facility to salvage the ship, and it could not be determined at the moment if a private agency would be required to help.