The Indian Navy is set to commission the new survey ship, the future INS Nirdeshak, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on 18 December 2024.
Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), the vessel represents the second unit of the Survey Vessel (Large) project.
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Incorporating more than 80% locally sourced components, the 110 metre vessel has a displacement of around 3,800 tonnes and operates with dual diesel engines.
Nirdeshak features hydrographic equipment including data acquisition and processing system, autonomous underwater vehicle, digital side scan sonar, remotely operated vehicle, DGPS long range positioning systems, among others.
The ship is named after its predecessor, which served for 32 years before being decommissioned on 19 December 2014.
The new ship’s keel was laid on 1 December 2020, and it was launched on 26 May 2022. It has completed an extensive series of trials both in harbour and at sea before its delivery.
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By GlobalDataWith an operational range that allows it to remain at sea for more than 25 days and a maximum speed surpassing 18 knots, Nirdeshak aims to bolster India’s maritime capabilities.
Its deployment is said to be crucial for charting national waters and consolidating India’s strategic reach within the Indian Ocean Region, especially through collaborative international survey missions.
In a statement in October 2024, the Ministry of Defence said: “The delivery of Nirdeshak is a reassurance on impetus of the Government of India and the Indian Navy towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self reliant India).
“The delivery of Nirdeshak is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of a large number of stakeholders, MSMEs and the Indian industry in enhancing the maritime prowess of the nation in the Indian Ocean Region.”
The contract for the class of ships for the Indian Navy was signed in October 2018.
The first ship of the class, INS Sandhayak, was commissioned by the Indian Navy earlier in 2024.
Sandhayak features hydrographic equipment including autonomous underwater vehicle, remotely operated vehicle, deep and shallow water multi-beam echo-sounders, side scan sonars, and data acquisition and processing system.
It also is equipped with satellite-based positioning systems and terrestrial survey equipment.
