An Indian fishing boat with 13 crew members collided with an Indian Navy submarine off the coast of Goa, the Defense Ministry announced on Friday (November 22).

A massive search and rescue operation was launched by the Indian Navy, which deployed six ships and aircraft.

Of the 13 crew members, 11 were rescued, but two remain missing.

According to a Defense Ministry statement, the fishing vessel, Marthoma, collided with a Scorpene-class submarine about 70 nautical miles off the coast of Goa.

“Search and rescue efforts for the other two are underway and are being coordinated with the Mumbai Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC). Additional assets, including those of the Coast Guard, have been diverted to the area to increase efforts,” the statement said. said.

“An investigation is underway into the causes of the incident,” he added.

India’s Scorpene-class submarines constitute a crucial part of its naval force in the Indian Ocean as they are capable of carrying out various missions such as anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence operations, laying mines and area surveillance.

These submarines feature cutting-edge technology, featuring advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low levels of radiated noise, hydrodynamically optimized shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.

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