The Indian Navy frigate Brahmaputra suffered severe damage after a fire while undergoing maintenance and repairs at the Bombay naval shipyard. The incident, which is now under investigation by local authorities, caused the ship to list and led to the disappearance of a sailor.
According to the Indian Navy, “…a fire broke out on board the Indian naval ship Brahmaputra, a multi-role frigate, on the night of July 21, 2024, while it was under repair. The fire was controlled by the ship’s crew with the help of the Bombay naval shipyard firefighters and other ships in the port, by the morning of July 22…”.
Despite the assistance provided by emergency services and shipyard personnel, the Brahmaputra frigate took on water. Efforts to keep the ship upright proved futile over time, as the ship continued to list at its berth until it eventually rested, semi-submerged, on its port side. Images circulating on social media also show damage to its main mast.
Furthermore, the Indian Navy confirmed that the incident resulted in the disappearance of a sailor, triggering search and rescue protocols on the ship and its surroundings.
The Brahmaputra F-31 frigate is the first unit of its class, having entered service with the Indian Navy in April 2000. Along with its two sister ships, they are locally designed and built vessels, drawing on experiences gained with the Godavari-class frigates.
Brahmaputra-class frigates displace about 3,850 tons at full load and are capable of speeds exceeding 27 knots. With a crew of 300 personnel, the ships are equipped with a wide range of armament: Kh-35 surface-to-surface missiles, vertical launchers for Barak anti-air missiles, a 76mm Oto Melara 76/62 cannon, ILAS torpedo tubes, and AK-630 point defense systems.
The Indian Navy had initiated the mid-life upgrade process for the Brahmaputra frigates, focusing on replacing the propulsion system. Notably, the second unit of the class, the Betwa, experienced a similar incident in December 2016 when it listed while in port. On that occasion, the ship was successfully recovered.
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