First Survey Vessel Large INS Sandhayak Commissioned

February 4, 2024

The Indian Navy commissioned its latest survey vessel, INS Sandhayak, at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on February 3, 2024 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. INS Sandhayak is the first in a series of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

Key Features of INS Sandhayak

INS Sandhayak is primarily designed to conduct comprehensive coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys for mapping navigational channels, port and harbor approaches, as well as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and extended continental shelf of India.
The 110 meter long and 3400 ton displacement vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment including multibeam echo sounders, side scan sonars, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles and advanced data acquisition and processing systems.
It has a top speed of over 18 knots powered by two diesel engines. INS Sandhayak has over 80% indigenous content in terms of cost and is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the Indian Navy and domestic industry.

Secondary Capabilities

In its secondary role, INS Sandhayak can gather oceanographic and geophysical data for both naval and civil applications. It also has limited defence capabilities to support naval operations in wartime. The vessel can serve as a hospital ship during emergencies.

Significance of INS Sandhayak

The commissioning of INS Sandhayak underscores India’s growing maritime interests and capabilities. It is a reincarnation of the older Sandhayak, the Indian Navy’s oldest hydrographic survey vessel that was decommissioned in 2021 after decades of service.
The induction of this new indigenous survey vessel boosts India’s autonomy in mapping its waters and harnessing marine resources. It affirms the country’s expertise in naval ship design and construction.

Contribution of Domestic Industry

INS Sandhayak has been built under the Survey Vessel (Large) project steered by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. Its keel was laid in March 2019 at GRSE and it was launched in December 2021.
The impressive indigenous content showcases the capabilities of Indian manufacturing, including MSMEs that supplied equipment and machineries. The successful delivery of INS Sandhayak is a milestone for the Make in India initiative in the defence sector.

The commissioning of INS Sandhayak will enhance the Indian Navy’s hydrographic survey capabilities and support the nation’s maritime interests. The project exemplifies self-reliance in defence shipbuilding.

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