Indian Navy All Set to Commission Its Latest Survey Vessel, Sandhayak

Indian Navy is all set to commission its new survey ship, the Sandhayak (Y-3025), on 3 February, adding to India’s evolving capability for a full-scale hydrographic survey of the seabed in harbours and ports, as well as various navigational channels, particularly in environments that range from narrow channels to deep seas. Besides its survey capability, which is vital in seabed warfare, Sandhayak’s secondary role is to operate as a hospital vessel during defence and emergency missions.

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The Sandhayak is the first of four Survey Vessel vessels to be successfully delivered to India’s Navy, transferring to the service from the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (abbreviated as the GRar, on 4 December last year. The deal for the class of vessels was signed on 30 October 2018. The Sandhayak reportedly shares its title with a predecessor vessel decommissioned on 4 June 2021.

The ship measures about 110 meters in length, displacing nearly 3400 tons, and boasts a top speed of over 18 knots, under power from two of its diesel engines. In keeping with India’s drive toward indigenization efforts, 80% of the vessel’s content was domestically produced.

The vessel’s keel was laid on 12 March 2019 and launched on 5 December 2021. The production time was two years and nine months, with adequate guidance from the Warship Design Bureau associated with the Indian Navy.

A statement released by India’s Press Information Bureau also credits stakeholders in the Indian industry and small and medium enterprises with successful inductions of the Sandhayak despite geopolitical issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.