India's new Naval Chief, Admiral Robin K Dhowan (C) meets Indian naval officers at Defence Headquarters prior to taking over as the Chief of Naval Staff, in New Delhi on April 17, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
NEW DELHI: India appointed a new navy chief on Thursday, nearly two months after his predecessor was forced to quit over a submarine accident that killed two sailors off the Mumbai coast.
The government installed Admiral Robin K Dhowan, 59, who has been acting in the job since the previous chief resigned over the submarine fire in February, the latest in a series of accidents to hit the navy.
"He is a navigation and direction specialist who has served with distinction in an array of command(s)," said a statement announcing the appointment.
The submarine fire came six months after 18 sailors were killed when another fully-armed submarine exploded in flames and sank in a military shipyard in Mumbai.
The disaster was thought to be the navy's worst since the sinking of a frigate by a Pakistani submarine during the war with its neighbour in 1971.
Dhowan takes over the top job at a critical time for the navy, which is attempting to upgrade its ageing mostly Russian-built fleet and is facing delays in the acquisition of new submarines.
India has been stepping up efforts to guard its territorial waters especially against China, which has been expanding its reach into the Indian Ocean.
The Indian navy has 14 submarines, but only between seven and nine are operational at any one time because of regular repairs and refitting.
The Indian Express newspaper reported on Thursday that Shekhar Sinha, a vice admiral who was overlooked for the top post in favour of Dhowan, could challenge his appointment in an Indian court.
Dhowan is slated to retire in two years.
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So called one of the biggest navies in the world is on its was towards doom and the new Chief came to push a bit more, speed up the process of winding up Indian Navy. 14 Submarines left? I think Indian Navy has prepared a plan to kill their untrained manpower along with the submarines and vessels.
From the last couple of months, there are continuous accidents in the Indian navy which made the former navy chief to resign. There are lots of concerns about the selection of the Indian Navy Chief with lots of declines. This is really a cautious moment that how this new Navy Chief gives supports to sinking shift Indian Navy. The world’s biggest Army can never come across with so much mishaps and causalities of its own skilled professionals.
Christian admiral? Only in secular india. ;)
"India appointed a new navy chief on Thursday, nearly two months after his predecessor was forced to quit over a submarine accident that killed two sailors off the Mumbai coast."
A mistake there. He wasn't forced to quit, he accepted the moral responsibility for the mishaps and handed over his resignation by himself.
Congradulations to one of the biggest navies in the world.