Indian Navy Lacks Training In Submarine Damage Control, Firefighting: CAG report

The Indian Navy lacks training facility for its crew on various aspects of damage control and firefighting in a submarine, The Hindu reports quoting the country’s Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) report tabled before the parliament last week.

According to a report, a proposal submitted by INS Satavahana, the dedicated school for imparting all facets of submarine training, indicating the requirement of a simulator to train in damage control and firefighting has not been approved since four years. The proposal was submitted in April 2014.

As a result, limited practical training is imparted through attachment to the Navy’s facilities for damage control and firefighting, which are based on the layout of ships.

“Thus, even after identifying the requirement of a critical training facility and recommendations by a Board, which investigated a major submarine accident, there is undue delay in procurement and installation of the same,” the report noted.

The daily highlighted that the Indian Navy witnessed the new submarine induction of the French Scorpene submarines, INS Kalvari, only after almost two decades. “India has an ageing submarine fleet most of which are getting mid-life upgrades to keep them active for another 15-20 years,” the daily said.

“Training in damage control and firefighting assumes even greater importance as India inducts nuclear submarines into its fleet,” the daily noted. 

At present, the Navy is in the process of inducting two deep submergence rescue vessel systems from a U.K.-based firm, which are critical in case of any disaster in the depths of the sea.

The CAG report highlighted delays in the completion of the Naval Academy Project at Ezhimala, non-availability of training equipment for new induction platforms, a deficiency in quality of training and other issues.

“The results of internal assessments of training establishments, as well as engine room watch keeping certificate and weighted input output analysis, brought out various deficiencies in the training imparted,” the report noted.