India Sinks Retired Warship To Build First-Of-Its-Kind Underwater Naval Museum

The Indian Navy has achieved a historic maritime milestone by sinking the retired Kumbhir-class landing ship, INS Guldar, to establish India’s first-of-its-kind underwater naval museum. Formally decommissioned on January 12, 2024, after nearly four decades of distinguished service, the vessel was strategically scuttled to create an artificial reef and diving attraction. This initiative preserves naval heritage while promoting maritime tourism, transforming a decommissioned asset into a protected site that honors the legacy of Indian merchant navy officers and naval personnel.

The process of scuttling a decommissioned naval vessel is strictly governed by international maritime standards, specifically the London Convention and the London Protocol regarding the dumping of wastes at sea. Compliance departments must ensure adherence to MARPOL Annex I regulations concerning the removal of hazardous materials, including fuel oils, lubricants, and polychlorinated biphenyls, before sinking. Furthermore, classification society requirements and SOLAS Chapter V regulations regarding navigational safety must be satisfied to ensure the sunken wreck does not pose a hazard to active shipping lanes or local port operations.

This underwater museum project directly impacts the operational scope of masters and navigating officers who must update their electronic navigational charts and notice to mariners to reflect the new underwater obstruction. These officers are responsible for verifying the precise coordinates of the wreck to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels. Additionally, deck officers should monitor local port authority broadcasts for restricted zones, ensuring that their bridge management protocols account for the permanent change in the regional bathymetric data.