Indian Navy’s second large survey vessel hits the water

Nirdeshak, the second of the four large survey vessels being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in collaboration with L&T Shipbuilding for the Indian Navy, was launched on 26 May at Kattupalli, Chennai.

The ship got its name from the first Nirdeshak which was also an Indian naval survey ship decommissioned in December 2014 after 32 years of service.

The contract for building four ships was signed between the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and GRSE in 2018. The first of class ship Sandhayak was launched in December 2021 at GRSE, Kolkata.

These survey vessels will replace the existing Sandhayak-class survey ships with new generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data. 

They have a displacement of about 3400 tons and can accomodate 235 personnel. The units are designed to operate at a speed of 14 knots and maximum speed of 18 knots. Bow & Stern Thrusters have been catered for better maneuvering at low speeds required during shallow water survey operations, according to the navy.

The hull of these ships is made from indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited.

With the capability to carry four survey motor boats and an integral helicopter, the primary role of the ships would be to undertake full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigational channels.

The ships would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications.

In their secondary role, the vessels are capable of providing limited defence, besides serving as hospital ships during emergencies.

The company plans to deliver the first survey vessel by January 2023, while the second one is to be delivered by April 2023.