Experts suggest new blocks to prop up Betwa

MUMBAI: The

navy

is in the process of constructing blocks in the dry dock to rest the frigate-class warship INS Betwa that tilted over during undocking and came to rest on its left side on December 5, killing two sailors,

Ashutosh Pandey

and N K Rai, and injuring 14 people.

After the mishap, officials of three foreign salvage companies arrived to hold meetings with the

naval authorities.

A senior official in the navy said the three salvage companies, after assessing the situation and studying the position of the warship, advised the authorities to construct new dock blocks. “These blocks will help in resting the warship and there will be no further damage after the dry dock is de-flooded. The extent of the damage will be known only after the water is removed,“ an official said.

The navy wants to lift the ship after the blocks are built and the vessel is docked.

“About one-fourth of the ship is in water. After placing the ship on the new blocks, deflooding of the dock and ship will be done. The assessment done is in the first phase of salvage operation. After the ship is placed on the new blocks, machinery will be used to make her upright by flooding it after the damaged portion is sealed.At present the water is present in the dock and cannot be deflooded because it could further damage the hull. Also, the dock cannot be flooded because the water ingress through the damaged part will further create problems,“ the official said.

While the

Board of Inquiry

(BoI) is expected to establish the exact reason for the mis hap, officers said the incident could have happened because of the failure of the “dock block mechanism“ or miscalculation of the “load distribution equilibrium“ required in the complex and delicate undocking procedure. The role of the dockmaster and other officers from the “naval constructors“ wing as well as the frigate captain and crew will be examined by the BoI.

“The navy has taken a very serious view of the incident, and those found guilty will be held accountable. Such a mishap, which left the frigate heavily damaged with at least 25% flooding in its compartments, has never been witnessed in India before,“ an officer said.


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