INS Brahmaputra may return to sea by year-end, fully combat-ready by mid-2026: Report

INS Brahmaputra’s crew is actively involved in coordinating the refit operations, as is standard practice for ships undergoing repairs.

Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra, which suffered extensive damage in a dockyard accident last July, is likely to regain seaworthiness by the end of 2025 and be fully combat-ready by mid-2026, senior officials told Hindustan Times.

The 3,850-tonne warship, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and commissioned in 2000, tipped over at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard on July 21, 2024, after a fire broke out onboard. The firefighting operation involved pumping large volumes of water, which destabilised the vessel. One sailor, Leading Seaman Sitendra Singh, tragically drowned in the incident while attempting to evacuate.

“Repairs are in full swing at the Naval Dockyard. The activities leading to the restoration of ‘float and move’ capabilities are expected to be completed by the year-end or early 2026. The ‘fight’ component is likely to be reactivated by June-July 2026. Getting the warship back in action is a priority,” a senior official told Hindustan Times.

In naval terminology, the “float, move, and fight” components refer to a warship’s structural integrity, propulsion systems, and combat capabilities, respectively.

The ship was moved to dry dock in November 2024 and underwent a comprehensive damage assessment before phased repairs began. “The focus is currently on restoring the hull, propulsion, and power generation systems. Damaged equipment is being removed and repaired at the Naval Dockyard’s workshops,” another official said, adding that work on the warship’s combat systems is progressing in parallel.

INS Brahmaputra’s crew is actively involved in coordinating the refit operations, as is standard practice for ships undergoing repairs.

Following the accident, Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi visited Mumbai to assess the situation and instructed the Western Naval Command to prioritise the frigate’s restoration. He also set up a special task force (STF), headed by a rear admiral, to review safety protocols and recommend measures to prevent such incidents.

The STF has since submitted its report, and its recommendations on safety and standard operating procedures have been circulated across all naval commands, with orders for immediate implementation, Hindustan Times reported.

The Navy’s top brass also held a four-day Naval Commanders’ Conference in April, during which a special session was dedicated to safety. The session reviewed follow-up actions taken on the STF’s findings and emphasised modernisation, indigenisation, and operational preparedness.

Despite these efforts, Hindustan Times noted that two additional naval accidents have occurred after the formation of the STF.