INS Brahmaputra severely damaged in Mumbai dockyard fire.

According to information published by Deccan Herald on July 22, 2024, the multi-role guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra suffered extensive damage from a major fire at the naval dockyard in Mumbai. The incident, one of the worst for the Indian Navy in a decade, resulted in the warship nearly keeling over and resting in a tilted position.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Artist rendering of the Indian Navy's frigate INS Brahmaputra. (Picture source: Generated by AI)

A junior sailor is reported missing following the fire, and the Indian Navy has launched an enquiry to determine the cause of the blaze while the vessel was undergoing refit. Despite efforts to control the fire, the ship began to list to one side (port side) and could not be stabilized, according to an Indian Navy spokesperson.

The Navy confirmed that all personnel have been accounted for except the missing sailor, and a search operation is ongoing. The exact number of officers and sailors on board during the refit operations is not yet known.

The fire was eventually controlled with the assistance of firefighters from the Naval Dockyard and other ships in the harbor. Follow-up actions included sanitization checks to assess residual fire risks.

This incident is reminiscent of a similar accident in 2016 when the missile frigate INS Betwa, belonging to the same class as INS Brahmaputra, capsized due to a loss of stability while undocking. That event resulted in two fatalities and 14 injuries, with the ship being righted after two months by a US company contracted by the Indian Navy.

About the class of frigates

The Brahmaputra-class frigates, also designated as Project 16A, are a series of guided-missile frigates designed and built indigenously by India. Developed as an enhanced version of the Godavari-class, they were constructed at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata. This class includes three ships: INS Brahmaputra, INS Betwa, and INS Beas, which were commissioned between 2000 and 2005.

These frigates are characterized by a length of 126.5 meters, a beam of 14.5 meters, and a draft of 4.5 meters, with a full load displacement of 3,850 tons. They are powered by steam turbines from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, producing 30,000 horsepower, enabling speeds exceeding 30 knots.

Their operational range extends to 4,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots, and they support a crew of 313, including officers, enlisted personnel, and aircrew members.

The armament of the Brahmaputra-class frigates is formidable, comprising Kh-35E anti-ship missiles and Barak surface-to-air missiles. Their main gun system includes an Oto Melara 76mm gun, complemented by AK-630 30mm close-in weapon systems for defense against aerial threats.