The Chief of the Naval Staff Adm R Harikumar visited INS Nireekshak at Kochi on 20 Feb 23. He interacted with the diving team of the ship involved in the salvage operations at a depth of 219 meters in the Arabian Sea and commended the ship on the safe and successful conduct of the operations under most challenging circumstances. This is the deepest salvage carried out in the country's waters. During his address to the ship's crew, the CNS complimented the dedicated effort of the ship in conducting the deep diving operations. He exhorted the undaunted spirit of the ‘Men Behind the Machine’.

The CNS awarded 'on the spot' Unit Citation to the ship, a first in Indian Navy. He also awarded commendations to the crew involved in the salvage ops.

Nireekshak had also recently completed a solemn dive off Gujarat coast to pay homage by laying wreath at 80 m depth, the resting site of erstwhile Khukri which sank during 1971 war.

INS Nireekshak is a Dive Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel of Indian Navy.  Built by Mazgaon Shipbuilders in 1985, the ship has been in service with the Navy since 1989 and was commissioned in the year 1995. INS Nireekshak has been part of various diving operations and holds the record for the deepest dive carried out in the country to a depth of 257 m.

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