SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
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The restoration of the Indian Navy’s warship INS Brahmaputra, which was severely damaged by a fire at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard, is set to be a lengthy and technically challenging process. According to officials familiar with the situation, the recovery could take over a year, as specialized machinery and technical expertise will be required to make the ship seaworthy again. The damage, exacerbated by water accumulation during firefighting efforts, has made the vessel difficult to upright, prolonging the recovery timeline.
On July 21, a fire broke out aboard INS Brahmaputra while the ship was undergoing a refit at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard. The fire caused significant damage to the 24-year-old guided-missile frigate and tragically claimed the life of one sailor. Though the fire was eventually brought under control, the vessel remains tilted toward the shore due to the weight of the water that was pumped in to extinguish the blaze. This excessive water ingress has added to the complexities of the salvage operation, making the ship extremely heavy and difficult to stabilize.
Efforts to right the ship have been complicated by its current state. Officials noted that the sheer weight of the vessel, combined with the water still inside, has made it challenging to bring the ship back to its upright position. The ship’s tilt and its position along the shore have further complicated efforts, requiring the deployment of specialized machinery and international technical expertise.
A team of international specialists has already inspected the vessel, assessing the damage and determining the next steps in the restoration process. However, despite these efforts, the salvage operation remains challenging, and officials expect it to take an extended period before the ship can be moved or prepared for full restoration. The technical complexities, combined with the ship’s age and damage from the fire, are expected to add months, if not over a year, to the process of making the warship seaworthy again.
The fire has caused substantial structural and mechanical damage to INS Brahmaputra, adding to the challenges of restoring the ship. Restoring the vessel will require a detailed assessment of its condition, including the damage to its propulsion systems, electronics, and armaments. Moreover, the water damage sustained during firefighting efforts has impacted key components, further complicating the restoration.
Experts will need to replace or repair damaged sections of the ship, conduct extensive maintenance, and ensure the vessel is once again fit for operational deployment. The process will not only be time-consuming but also require advanced technical expertise, with specialists likely to be brought in to manage different phases of the restoration.
Given the ship’s age and the extent of the damage, the Navy will need to carefully evaluate whether full restoration is feasible or whether decommissioning could be a more cost-effective option. Until such evaluations are completed, the full scope of the restoration project remains unclear.
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