Indian Navy set to commission new survey vessel

The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest survey vessel Sandhayak, at Naval Dockyard, Vizag on February 3.

As informe, the event marks the formal induction into the Navy of the first of four survey vessel (large) ships under construction at M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The project has been steered by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy.

Sandhayak was delivered to the Indian Navy on December 4, 2023 after completing a rigorous and comprehensive trial program both in the harbor and at sea.

The primary role of the ship is to carry out full-scale hydrographic surveys of ports, harbors, navigational channels/ routes, coastal areas and deep seas, to enable safe marine navigation. In its secondary role, the ship will be capable of undertaking a range of naval operations, according to the navy.

A significant addition to the naval fleet, Sandhayak is equipped with hydrographic equipment including Deep & Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo-Sounders, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle, Side Scan Sonars, Data Acquisition and Processing System, satellite-based positioning systems and terrestrial survey equipment.

The ship is propelled by two diesel engines and is capable of achieving speeds over 18 knots. It measures 110 meters in length, displacing 3400 tons and with 80% indigenous content. The second vessel in this class was launched in May 2022.