Sandhayak-class survey vessel (2023)

The Sandhayak-class survey vessels are a series of four survey vessels being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata for the Indian Navy. The first vessel was commissioned in 2021. The primary role of the vessels would be to conduct coastal and deep-water hydro-graphic survey of ports, navigational channels, Economic Exclusive Zones and collection of oceanographic data for defence. Their secondary role would be to perform search & rescue, ocean research and function as hospital ships for casualties.^[1][2][3][4]

Sandhayak (J18) during sea trials
Class overview
Builders	Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Operators	Indian Navy
Preceded by	Makar class
Planned	4
Building	2
Completed	1
Active	1
General characteristics
Type	Hydrographic survey ship
Displacement	3,300 tonnes (3,248 long tons)
Length	110 m (360 ft 11 in)
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range	6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) to 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	231
Sensors and processing systems	Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) Multi Beam Echo Sounders
Armament	CRN 91 naval gun
Aircraft carried	1 × HAL Dhruv helicopter
Aviation facilities	Helipad

History

In April 2016, the Indian Navy issued a request for proposal to six shipyards, four public and two private, for the construction of four large survey vessels. In September 2017, GRSE emerged as the lowest bidder with a bid of ₹2,435.15 crore, beating L&T Shipbuilding by ₹742 crore. The contract was awarded to GRSE by Ministry of Defence on 30 October 2018. The first ship is expected to be delivered within 36 months from the date of signing the contract.^[1][2][5]

Design

The ships have a displacement of 3,300 tonnes (3,248 long tons) and a length of 110 metres (360 ft 11 in). They have a cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) with a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and an operating range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at a speed of 14 to 16 knots (26 to 30 km/h; 16 to 18 mph). The ships have a complement of 231 and are equipped with hydrographic sensor equipment and a hangar which can accommodate one advanced light helicopter. In the secondary role, the ships can be fitted with a CRN 91 naval gun. In addition, the vessels will follow MARPOL (marine pollution) Standards of the International Maritime Organisation and will be built per Classification Society Rules and Naval Ship Regulations.^[1][5][6]

Development

The keel of the first ship Sandhayak ,named after its predecessor Sandhayak, was laid down on 8 November 2019 and launched on 5 December 2021. It was expected to be commissioned by 2023, the boat was commissioned on 3 February 2024.^[7][8][9]

The second vessel of the class, Nirdeshak , was laid on 1 December 2020 and was subsequently launched on 26 May 2022. The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on 8 October 2024.^[10]

The third ship, Ikshak, was laid down on 6 August 2021 and launched on 26 November 2022.^[11][12]

The fourth and the last ship, Sanshodhak, was laid down on 17 June 2022, and launched on 13 June, 2023.^[13]

Ships of the class

Name	Pennant	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Home-port	Status
Indian Navy
Sandhayak	J18	3025	GRSE	8 November 2019[14]	5 December 2021[8]	3 February 2024[7][15]	Visakhapatnam	Active
Nirdeshak	J19	3026		1 December 2020[16]	26 May 2022[17]	December 2024 (expected)[18][19]		Delivered[10]
Ikshak	J23	3027		6 August 2021[11]	26 November 2022[20]	March 2025 (expected)[21]		On harbor trails
Sanshodhak	J24	3028		17 June 2022[22]	13 June 2023[13]	June 2025 (expected)[21]		Launched

Gallery

• 
  Sandhayak during commissioning ceremony.

See also

• Future of the Indian Navy

References

1. "MOD signs contract with GRSE for supply of four survey vessels for Indian Navy". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
2. "Indian MoD orders four survey ships from GRSE | Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
3. "GRSE to build four survey vehicles for Indian Navy, contract inked". The Economic Times. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
4. "GRSE to supply vessels to Indian Navy - NWI - Naval Warfare - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
5. "Rs 2500 cr Indian Navy 4 vessel project bagged by Garden Reach Shipbuilders - The Financial Express". www.financialexpress.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
6. "GRSE bags over Rs 2,000 crore contract to build 4 large survey vessels for Navy". Deccan Chronicle. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
7. "INS Sandhayak, first Survey Vessel Large ship, commissioned into Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri in Visakhapatnam". PIB (Press release). 3 February 2024.
8. "First of the four ships under Survey Vessel (Large) project for Indian Navy launched in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri at GRSE, Kolkata" (Press release). PIB. 5 December 2021.
9. @indiannavy (5 December 2021). "Sandhayak and her three other sister ships are scheduled to be delivered between Oct 22 and Jan 24" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
10. "DELIVERY OF YARD 3026 (NIRDESHAK)". PIB (Press release). 8 October 2024.
11. "KEEL LAYING CEREMONY FOR 1st WARSHIP OF ASW SHALLOW WATER CRAFT PROJECT AND 3rd WARSHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL LARGE PROJECT". PIB. 6 August 2021.
12. "GRSE launches 3rd Survey Vessel (Large) within a year". 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
13. "LAUNCH OF 'SANSHODHAK', FOURTH SHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL (LARGE) PROJECT AT M/s L&T, KATTUPALLI ON 13 JUN 23". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Retrieved 13 June 2023.
14. @OfficialGRSE (8 November 2019). "Vice Admiral Ajay Kumar Saxena, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition delivering his speech on the Keel Laying Ceremony of First Survey Vessel Large won on competitive bidding by GRSE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
15. "INS Sandhayak to be commissioned at Visakhapatnam on February 3". The Hindu. 1 February 2024.
16. Mathew, Arun. "GRSE Lays Keel for Second Survey Vessel (Large) for Indian Navy". DefPost. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
17. "LAUNCH OF 'NIRDESHAK' (YARD 3026) SECOND VESSEL OF SURVEY VESSEL (LARGE) PROJECT". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Retrieved 11 June 2023.
18. @Sputnik_India (20 September 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: 7 warships, one submarine to join 🇮🇳 Navy in next 4 months — defence sources to Sputnik India One ship is being built in 🇷🇺Russia, while the rest are being made in India..." (Tweet). Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via Twitter.
19. "Indian Navy On its Way to a Million Tonne – 50 Ships Under Construction". www.overtdefense.com. 23 August 2024.
20. "LAUNCH OF 'IKSHAK' THIRD SHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL (LARGE) PROJECT ON 26 NOV 22 AT L&T, KATTUPALLI". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Retrieved 11 June 2023.
21. "Indian Navy On its Way to a Million Tonne – 50 Ships Under Construction". www.overtdefense.com. 23 August 2024.
22. "Keel laying ceremony of fourth ship of SVL and Second and third ships of ASW SWC". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 11 June 2023.