Overview

• The ship made its maiden port call at Changi on September 14 as the harbour phase began with expert exchanges, a medical symposium and cross-deck visits.
• During the sea phase, the vessel and Submarine Rescue Unit (East) are slated to conduct multiple intervention and rescue operations with partner assets in the South China Sea.
• Acting as the mothership, the platform will host India’s deep submergence rescue vehicle and employ side-scan sonar, work and observation ROVs and deep-sea diving systems.
• Singapore is hosting the biennial exercise with more than 40 nations participating or observing, and local reports say China is attending only as an observer.
• Commissioned on July 18 with more than 80% indigenous content, the ship advances India’s self-reliance drive and follows the 2018–19 induction of two DSRVs rated to about 650 metres.