New navy chief: Avoiding mishaps top priority

We have effective safety audits and strict procedures in place to ensure that accidents don't happen, adds Navy Chief Admiral Robin Dhowan

Taking over from a predecessor who had quit midway owing to a series of mishaps, Navy Chief Admiral Robin Dhowan on Thursday said the force would ensure such accidents did not happen, and personnel follow rules without taking short cuts which led to such incidents.

The 22nd navy chief said, “We have effective safety audits and strict procedures in place to ensure accidents don’t happen.”

D K Joshi had resigned taking moral responsibility for a series of mishaps. In 10 months, the navy has suffered 14 mishaps, including two involving submarines. The first major mishap was in August, which resulted in the sinking of the INS Sindhurakshak and killing of all 18 personnel on board. The second submarine mishap was on February 26, in which two officers died on INS Sindhuratna. This led to the resignation of Joshi as Chief of Naval Staff.

Dhowan, who has superseded Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, said the force, including sailors and commands, will have to work together to take it forward. He said his first priority would be to ensure the navy was combat-ready. Second was to ensure men and officers were trained professionally. He said the future of the navy was based on self-reliance and indigenisation and currently we had 45 submarines and warships under construction.