Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), a leading international classification society, has taken a pioneering stride towards increasing the range of services to Indian Navy submarines.

IRS will provide third party inspection services for the submarine, INS Sindhukirti, which is presently undergoing a ‘normal refit’ at Hindustan Shipyard (HSL), Visakhapatnam.

IRS has been fully involved in ensuring onboard Safety and Quality standards through its dedicated Surveyors; material testing & identification, including establishment of new WPS / PQR and ensuring welder qualification thereon; undertaking joint inspections with Naval Authorities particularly for fabrication and renewals of key items made in India for first time.

This is the first instance when a ship classification society is carrying out inspection in refits of submarines undertaken in India, and this will go a long way in ensuring self-reliance in this vital field and realising the national aim of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’.

Cdr KK Dhawan, Head Defence IRS, stated that “Indian Register of Shipping thanks Hindustan Shipyard Ltd and Indian Navy for reposing their trust in IRS capabilities and assigning us the prestigious responsibility of ensuring that all work done on INS Sindhukirti fully meets the approved standards and the vessel returns to operational service with the highest level of reliability. IRS will leave no stone unturned to achieve this aim.”