GRSE hands over third survey vessel to Indian Navy

August 14, 2025, by Aida Čučuk

Indian shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has delivered the third in a series of four survey vessels (large) to the Indian Navy.

Credit: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) via LinkedIn

As disclosed, the 110-meter-long warship INS Ikshak was handed over on August 14, 2025, and, once commissioned, is expected to provide survey data.

The second ship of this class, INS Nirdeshak, was welcomed by the Indian Navy on October 8, 2024, while the first vessel, INS Sandhayak, was received on December 4, 2023.

The Sandhayak-class of survey vessels (large), or SVLs, including the Ikshak, are said to be the largest such platforms to be built in India and operated by the country’s navy.

According to GRSE, these SVLs are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of port and harbor approaches as well as the determination of navigation channels and routes. In addition, this class can reportedly undertake surveys of maritime limits and collect oceanographic and geographical data for defense applications.

It is understood that these ships can each carry a helicopter, participate in low-intensity combat, function as hospital ships, and be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

GRSE said the vessels are propelled by two marine diesel engines combined with fixed-pitch propellers and fitted with bow and stern thrusters, adding that the INS Ikshak was built using ‘Integrated Construction’ technology.

To note, this delivery comes less than a month after GRSE handed over the advanced guided missile frigate Himgiri to the Indian Navy. Together with the frigate Udaygiri, Himgiri is expected to be commissioned on August 26, 2025.