INS Brahmaputra restoration reaches major milestone after fire incident

Almost four months after a major fire broke out on board the INS Brahmaputra at the naval dockyard in Mumbai, the restoration process of the Indian Navy warship has reached a major milestone.
Sources told India Today TV that the multi-role frigate is now upright, with foreign agency experts deballasting the warship using balloon-like structures, pushing the ship’s surface up.
According to officials, INS Brahmaputra was undergoing a refit when it caught fire in July. At least one sailor died in the incident, with massive damage to the warship.
The vessel also listed severely to one side, leading to its sinking. Despite all efforts, the ship could not be brought back to an upright position.
The Navy sought foreign expertise for the restoration of the warship. But the entire process could take a few more months to make the ship seaworthy, as additional specialised machinery and technical expertise will be required to ensure it is fit for sailing.
The ship has now been moved for restoration from the location of the fire incident.
The ship remained tilted due to water accumulation during firefighting operations, making it extremely heavy and difficult to upright.
Specialised machinery and technical expertise are being used to rectify the damage.
A team of international specialists inspected the vessel earlier to assess the impact of the fire. The process so far has been challenging due to the ship’s excessive weight caused by water ingress.
The Navy has yet to provide an official update on the salvage operation’s progress, though the restoration and recovery are expected to be lengthy.
It is collaborating closely with foreign agencies to ensure the ship returns to service as soon as possible, but the extensive damage will require meticulous repairs, sources added.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi had visited Mumbai after the incident to review the situation, emphasising the importance of restoring INS Brahmaputra’s seaworthiness and combat readiness.
The Navy has also formed a Special Task Force, led by a Rear Admiral, to audit safety and security protocols across naval operations.
The Western Naval Command is overseeing the efforts to salvage and restore the 24-year-old warship, which was in the final phase of its refit before resuming missions as part of the Western Fleet.
On the restoration process, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said, “We have a lot of Indian salvage capabilities but for INS Brahmaputra we have sought foreign assistance, and we will definitely revive the ship.”