The Indian Navy’s submarine rescue capabilities have got a boost with the successful maiden trials of its newly inducted Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).

In a release issued last night, the Navy said, the Western Naval Command conducted the trials of the DSRV, which carried out an operation with a bottomed submarine at a depth of over 300 feet and transferred personnel from the submarine to the rescue vehicle. DSRV, operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled submarine at one time.

During the trials, the DSRV also dived successfully up to 666 metres, setting a record for deepest submergence by a manned vessel in Indian waters.

The release also said, once the trials are completed, it will put the Indian Navy into the league of world navies that have an integral submarine rescue capability.