• The Indian Navy and the South African Navy have signed an Implementing Agreement that ensures the safety of the South African Navy’s submarine crew in times of distress or accident.

• This agreement was signed by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy and Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy.

• The Implementing Agreement underscores a shared commitment to maritime safety and mutual support. Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will provide assistance by deploying its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) when required, further strengthening the collaborative ties between the two navies. 

• This partnership reinforces the longstanding maritime relationship between India and South Africa.

Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)

• Submarine rescue is required to be undertaken when a submarine is reported to be missing or sunk and specialised equipment is required for underwater search to locate the disabled submarine and rescue the personnel who are trapped inside the submarine.

• India is amongst the few countries in the world capable of undertaking search and rescue of a disabled submarine using a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). 

• The Indian Navy procured two DSRVs from the UK that were operationalised in 2018.

• India operates DSRVs, one each for the eastern and western seaboards — Mumbai and Visakhapatnam — that can be either ship-mounted or air-transportable.

• Indian Navy’s DSRV system can locate a submarine upto 1,000 meter depth utilising its state of the art Side Scan Sonar (SSS) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). 

• After the submarine is successfully located, another sub-module of DSRV — the Submarine Rescue Vehicle — mates with the submarine to rescue the trapped personnel. The SRV can also be used to provide emergency supplies to the submarine.

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