Fire reported onboard VLCC #MTNewDiamond off the coast of Sri Lanka. #IndianNavy ships Mission Deployed in the area, diverted to undertake rescue ops & render assistance.
Ops being carried out in close liaison with Sri Lanka Authorities. #RescueatSea #BridgesofFriendship
Onboard team assisting in connecting up tow with Tug Alp Winger.
#Update. #INSSahyadri-On Scene Commander, reports Joint team connected tow with Tug Alp Winger & towing of #MTNewDiamond commenced.
Heavy smoke still observed onboard
Flames on superstructure & heavy smoke emanating from funnel.
Tug Alp Winger handing over tow to Tug TTT1 & joining fire-fighting efforts.
#Update. #MTNewDiamond being towed away from the Sri Lankan coast. #MenatWork on the High Seas ensuring continuous progess of towing operations as the changover of the tug takes place from Tug Alp Winger to Tug TTT. #RescueatSea
#Aerial reconnaissance continuing & flames still visible with smoke emanating from superstructure. Air-Dropping of Dry Chemical Powder being undertaken. (2/2)
#OnSceneCommander#INSSahyadri reports fire on #MTNewDiamond under control. Aerial reconnaissance being undertaken to assess present situation, to be followed by boarding of ship.
#Update
Re-ignition of fire observed on Starboard (Right) side of #MTNewDiamond.
Fire-fighting & boundary cooling efforts intensified to bring fire under control.
Salvage Team has arrived at scene. Additional assets, salvage personnel & FF equipment also enroute. @SpokespersonMoD
#Update #MTNewDiamond
No Flames visible and smoke visibly reduced. Boundary cooling in progress by support vessels. #Salvage team M/s SMIT present on-site.
#update #MTNewDiamond
Nil flames observed during the night.
Smoke greatly reduced.
Joint meeting with Salvers M/s SMIT in progress to plan embarkation onboard AM 9 Sep 20 for damage assessment.
Boundary cooling continues.
Additional resources enroute. @SpokespersonMoD @MEAIndia
#Update #MTNewDiamond now 80km from coast.
No flames & smoke visible for last 24 hours.
Salvage Team boarded & inspected vessel. Reports #MTNewDiamond fire extinguished, vessel presently stable.
Salvage Team boarding again AM 10 Sep to prepare vessel for towing. @SpokespersonMoD
#Update #MTNewDiamond being towed by Tug TTT1, presently over 90km from Sri Lanka coast.
No flames and smoke observed, vessel assessed safe and stable by Salvors M/s SMIT.
Salvage equipment being embarked on #MTNewDiamond by M/s SMIT to stabilise the vessel.
#November 1961 - in a display of its #maritime supremacy in the region Portuguese contingent based at #Anjadip Island fires at #Indian merchant ship Sabarmati. Portuguese garrisons also fire indiscriminately on Indian fishing boats off #Karwar & South #Goa (1/n)
These acts of aggression by the Portuguese forced #GovernmentofIndia to evict them from Indian soil & #IndianNavy executed #OpVijay to achieve this aim.
Two warships #Rajput & #Kirpan are deployed to escort merchant ships & ensure safety of fishermen (2/n) #NavalArchives
Admiral R Hari Kumar succeeds Adm Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC who retires upon superannuation, after an illustrious career, spanning over forty one years, in the #IndianNavy
#Reliving1971
On evening of 03 Dec 1971, then PM Smt Indira Gandhi announced-
''I speak to you at a moment of grave peril to our country...The Pakistan Air Force suddenly struck at our airfields in Amritsar, Pathankot, Srinagar, Avantipur, Utterlai, Jodhpur, Ambala & Agra''
(1/n)
The first hostilities had broken-out between India & Pakistan!
However, known to a few, Pakistani Submarine Ghazi was already on the prowl on the Eastern coast of India since end-Nov - its target, the aircraft carrier #INSVikrant - the pride of #IndianNavy (2/n). #NavalArchives
In fact, from 27 Nov onwards, PNS Ghazi hung around 5-10 miles off the harbour entrance, armed with torpedoes & mines, waiting for Vikrant.
Did Ghazi get its target? Or did Vikrant manage to counter the deadly submarine?
To know more, watch this space (3/n)
Anwar Baksh was carrying Pakistani soldiers disguised as labourers. Already suspicious of the vessel, Beas immediately despatched 18 of her bravest, under the leadership of Lt Cdr Bazaz, to board, apprehend & seize the vessel (2/n).
A team of around 400 persnl led by VAdm AK Chawla, FOCinC (S) kickstarted the endeavour by removing a considerable amount of plastic waste accumulated over the years in the Backbay channel, also called ‘Venduruthy channel' 2/n
The channel, connects to the Kollam-Kottapuram channel, and runs along the western side of the naval residential enclave of Katari Bagh 3/n