Naval sub mishap version has no legs

It was for the submarine to avoid collision. It didn't

- V Sudarshan

It is odd that the Indian Navy should blame a fishing boat, M V Marthoma, for ramming INS Karanj (S 23), a Scorpeneclass submarine, worth at least Rs 8000 crore, 70 nautical miles off the coast of Goa around 7.15 pm on the night of November 21. A criminal case has been filed against the helmsman as well. Many aspects of the Navy story are bereft of sea legs. It is plainly inferable that the collision was a result of bad decision-making aboard the submarine.

According to an FIR registered at the Yellow Gate Police station, Mumbai, the crew of INS Karanj, operating at periscope depth, at a speed of 6 knots an hour, spotted a dimly lit stationary fishing vessel 2-3 kilometres away on the starboard side, which means to the right side of the bow of the submarine. The vessel was stationary. The FIR says that it was not transmitting via the Automatic Identification System which provides the name of the vessel, its registration number, the place of registration. The FIR mentions that the fishing boat was not seen clearly. The fact remains it had been spotted. That is all that matters.

Under any circumstance, it is incumbent upon the submarine to avoid a collision. That is the first rule. Fishing boats are a constant menace to submarines operating along coastlines and collisions occur far more frequently than is reported, which made it imperative upon the crew of the submarine to stay vigilant. Also, Rule 15 of the Maritime Rules of the Road, which are the rules of navigation, covers the situation when two power-driven vessels have to cross each other.