From US to Iran, a global history of peace time incidents impacting warships

The Indian Navy's multi-role frigate, INS Brahmaputra, last week saw a major fire incident while undergoing scheduled repairs at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. A fire broke out onboard the vessel on the evening of July 21, which resulted in death of an Indian Naval personnel.

The fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew with assistance of firefighters from Naval Dockyard, Mumbai and other ships in harbour, by morning of 22 July.

A release from the Indian Navy while confirming the demise of Leading Seaman, Sitendra Singh said that the Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has "directed that all actions by the Command and Naval Headquarters to make INS Brahmaputra seaworthy and combat ready are to be initiated immediately."

Add WION as a Preferred Source

While it is beingseen as a setback,such incidents have happened in the past, not only in India but globally. In July 2020, US Navy ship, USS Bonhomme Richard saw a catastrophic fire which took 4 days to extinguish, injuring 63 sailors while undergoing maintenance at Naval Base San Diego. The Ship was ultimately decommissioned in April 2021 and sold as scrap.

More recently, earlier this month, Iran's destroyer Sahand capsized over during repairs in Bandar Abbas. Iran's Tasnim News agency reported that the vessel which was being repaired at the dock lost its balance. Britain's HMS Prince of Wales has faced repeated failures and extended repair periods. The British warship is termed as the most advanced warship ever builtfor the British Navy.

Refits and repairs are inherently complex and risky operations and involves extensive welding, cutting, and electrical work. The activities, often conducted in harsh conditions without air conditioning, increase the risk of fires and incidents. Despite stringent safety protocols, incidents involving INS Brahmaputra highlight the dangers involved.

The incident involving INS Brahmaputra has happened at a time when the Indian Navy in its western seaboard units, has been operationally over stretched since late 2023. Deployed extensively in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea for maritime security operations, combating piracy, and fulfilling diplomatic roles, the Indian Navy's operational tempo necessitates expedited refits, adding to pressures faced by dockyard agencies.

In response to the INS Brahmaputra incident, the Navy has announced a thorough inquiry to identify any shortcomings and conditions that may have contributed to the accident. The Navy, of course, has a history of resilience and learning from setbacks. Approximately eight years ago, INS Betwa, another ship of the same class (as of INS Brahmaputra), tipped over while undocking. When INS Betwa tipped over, many predicted its end, yet the ship recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and remains operational.