The Indian Navy Wednesday signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Limited for construction of two Diving Support Vessels (DSV) to augment its submarine support operations.

The first vessel to be built over a 36 month period would be followed by the second, six months later.

The vessels, to be based at Vishakhapatnam and Mumbai respectively, would be 118 metres in length and have a displacement of approximately 7,650 tonnes, a navy press release said.

“In addition to operating submarines to secure our waters, the Indian Navy undertakes diving operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

This necessitates extensive diving operations to facilitate various activities such as submarine rescue, underwater inspection, testing or salvage and recovery of objects/ship aircraft lost at sea,” the release said.

As these activities involve operations with divers remaining underwater for prolonged duration, it requires a suitable platform for their launch and recovery, as well as for carriage of related tools and equipment, it said.

The DSV is also equipped with a Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), which significantly enhances its Submarine Rescue Capabilities.

The release said that the contract for procuring two sets of non-tethered DSRVs, capable of effecting submarine rescue up to depths of 650 meters was concluded with James Fisher Defence, U.K. on March 16.

The first DSRV was delivered at Mumbai in April 18 and the second, slated for Vishakhapatnam, is expected by the end of December 2018.

Induction of DSVs equipped with DSRV would go a long way in enhancing the Indian Navy’s capability and reach of submarine rescue operations in the IOR, the release added.