Indo-US Joint Navy Diver Exercise Starts Tomorrow

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Indian Navy Statement (edited): Indian and US Navy divers will tomorrow commence exercises in a joint salvage exercise off Port Blair in the Andaman Sea. The salvage exercises (SALVEX) from Jan 5-12, involves Indian Navy diving tender INS Nireekshak and USS Safeguard, a specialised salvage ship of the US Navy.

The aim of the exercise is to strengthen capability in niche techniques associated with diving and salvage. In the course of the seven day exercise various specialist salvage techniques will be practiced jointly by IN and USN divers, including operation of underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and side scan SONARs being launched from USS Safeguard, and demonstration of Hot Tap Equipment (special equipment used for removal of oil/fuel from tanks of sunken vessels). During the SALVEX the divers will also hone their salvage skills on a ‘Mud Monster’, a pontoon specially built and sunk to practice salvage and diving exercises.

The maiden IN-USN SALVEX was conducted in 2005 and the SALVEX series of exercises have been conducted annually thereafter alternately in India and US Pacific locations. Interestingly in the first SALVEX a vintage Sea Hawk fighter aircraft was recovered from a depth of about 50 metres off Kochi. IN Salvage teams have also recovered a Seaking helicopter from a depth of 70 metres in the past.

INS Nireekshak is the Indian Navy’s specialist diving support ship with the capacity to support dives upto 300 metres depth. USS Safeguard is a Safeguard class auxilliary rescue and salvage ship. In this edition of SALVEX, the Indian Navy’s team comprises 17 Clearance Divers including two officers and the US Navy’s team comprises 15 divers including two officers.

Photo Courtesy Indian Navy / DPR Defence

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3 thoughts on “Indo-US Joint Navy Diver Exercise Starts Tomorrow”

  2. R Nair

    Wish you and you wife a very special and happy New Year Greetings.

    Off of the topic.

    I read the comments by Dr. Saraswat that Agni-II Prime was failed because of the quality of the components procured from the industry (http://www.brahmand.com/news/India-aims-to-raise-bar-of-interceptor-missile-test/5963/1/10.html)

    Is it possible for you to go deep into this matter from your resources? If DRDO knew the quality of the components, why did it procure the components from those firm/s? Or did they find out only after the "failed test"? Or did they wait for this test to declare that components were of bad quality? Was there any tests on the quality of the components?

    Anyway, this is a very serious issue, isn't? DRDO might have procured more components from these firm/s in their previous missile tests. If so, DRDO can guarantee the quality of the components? How does it know that, when need arises, the missiles having those components will not fail?

    Nair.

    Reply

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