Torpedo Recovery Vessel

Indian Naval Torpedo Recovery Vessel, IN TRVA 72, sank off Visakhapatnam on 06 Nov 14. The ship had sailed for a routine mission with 29 personnel including six from the Naval Science and  Technology Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam onboard.

While returning to Visakhapatnam post completion of mission, the ship reported flooding in her steering gear compartment at about 1830 hrs on 06 Nov14. Eastern Fleet ships exercising in the vicinity immediately rendered necessary assistance. However, the ship sank at about 1930 hrs due to uncontrolled flooding 35 nautical miles south of Visakhapatnam. While 24 personnel were rescued alive, the body of one service man was also recovered. At present, four personnel remain missing.

A list of navy vessels mishaps that have taken place during the last three years and current year (i.e. 1st January 2011 till date) with details is as under:

Sl No	Date	Incident	No. of Casualty Reported	Status of Inquiry
1.	20.01.11	Collision of J3 sailing Boat with INS Kalpeni	Nil	02 officers were found culpable and disciplinary action has been completed against them.
2.	30.01.11	Collision between MV Nordlake and INS Vindhyagiri	Nil	10 officers and 07 sailors were found culpable and disciplinary action has been completed against them. The disciplinary action against one officer is pending.
3.	30.05.11	Fire in Galley onboard INS Deepak	Nil	05 officers and two sailors were found culpable and disciplinary action has been completed against them.
4.	11.03.12	Fire on board LCU L 38	Nil	01 officer and 02 sailors were found culpable for incident and disciplinary action has been completed against them.
5.	08.10.12	Fire in engine room - INFAC 83	Nil	No individual or organization was held blameworthy for the incident.
6.	19.12.12	Fire in AFT battery pit onboard INS Shankush	Nil	No individual or organization was held responsible for the cause of fire and the incident was treated as an accident.
7.	14.07.13	Fire onboard INS Tarasa	Nil	03 officers and 04 sailors were found culpable and disciplinary action against them initiated.
8.	26.07.13	Damage to StbdHelo hangar and other fittings of INS Delhi by Yard 12701 (Kolkata)	Nil	02 officers were found culpable and disciplinary action against them is being initiated at Headquarter Western Naval Command (HQWNC).
9.	14.08.13	Explosion in INS Sindhurakshak	18	Board Proceedings under examination at Naval Headquarters (NHQ).
10.	22.09.13	Fire onboard INS Viraat	Nil	05 officers and 01 sailor were found culpable and disciplinary action against them initiated.
11.	04.12.13	Fire onboard INS Konkan	Nil	Board Proceedings under examination at Naval Headquarters (NHQ).
12.	19.12.13	Scraping of INS Tarkash shipside on SBW Knuckle	Nil	02 officers were found culpable and disciplinary action against them initiated at HQWNC.
13.	23.12.13	Collision of INS Talwar with unlit fishing boat	Nil	04 officers and 02 sailors were found culpable. Disciplinary action against 03 Officers and 02 sailors completed. Summary trial of one officer undertaken at HQWNC.
14.	08.01.14	Crack on sonar dome of INS Betwa	Nil	03 officers were found culpable and disciplinary action against them initiated at HQWNC.
15.	17.01.14	Suspended movement of INS Sindhughosh while securing to alongside berth	Nil	Board Proceedings under examination at Naval Headquarters (NHQ).
16.	23.01.14	Sea water ingress into tiller flat through a crack/hole in Ship side of INS Vipul.	Nil	05 officers were found culpable and disciplinary action against them initiated at HQWNC.
17.	30.01.14	Damage to Port propeller of INS Airavat whilst entering Harbour.	Nil	Board Proceedings under examination at Naval Headquarters (NHQ).
18.	26.02.14	Incident of fire in third compartment and death of two officers onboard INS Sindhuratna	02	07 officers were found culpable and disciplinary action against them initiated at HQWNC.
19.	07.03.14	Accident onboard Yard 12701(Kolkata) under construction at MDL while carrying out trials of Engine Room firefighting system	01	No individual or organization was held responsible for the cause of incident and the incident was treated as an accident.
20.	06.04.14	Incident of Smouldering and thick smoke in Armoury during Hot Work of INS Matanga	Nil	Board Proceedings under examination at Naval Headquarters (NHQ).
21.	28.06.14	Damage to port propeller of INS Kuthar while coming alongside at Port Blair.	Nil	BOI is in progress at Headquarter Eastern Naval Command (HQENC).
22.	02.07.14	Touching bottom of INS Cheetah while entering Kochi Harbour	Nil	BOI is in progress at Headquarter Southern Naval Command (HQSNC).
23.	31.10.14	Collision of INS Kora with MV Madeleine Rickmers at Sea	Nil	BOI is in progress at HQENC.
24.	06.11.14	Sinking of TRV-72	01 (  04 personnel remain missing)	BOI is in progress at HQENC.

Lessons learnt from the Board of Inquiry (BoI) are implemented appropriately. Corrective steps have been taken by Naval Headquarters with extensive checks on weapon related safety systems and audit of Standard Operating Procedures on all operational naval units. Safety procedures and professional checks are re-emphasized. Incidents Study and Analysis Cells have been instituted at professional schools wherein lessons learnt are incorporated into professional training. Safety Audits of various units have been instituted.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Ashok Shankar Rao Chavan and others in Lok Sabha today(28.11.2014).