• ‘Nirdeshak’, the second of the four Survey Vessels (Large) project being built by GRSE in collaboration with L&T shipbuilding for the Indian Navy was launched at Kattupalli near Chennai.

• The ship has taken its name from erstwhile ‘Nirdeshak’ which was also an Indian Naval Survey ship and was decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service in December 2014. 

Survey Vessels (Large) project

• The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between the defence ministry and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata in October 2018. 

• Sandhayak, the first of the four vessels, was launched on December 5, 2021 at GRSE, Kolkata.

• Nirdeshak, a hydrographic survey vessel, is the second of four ships being built by GRSE under the Survey Vessel (Large) project for the Indian Navy.

• All four survey vessel (large) ships will enhance the hydrographic and oceanographic survey capabilities of the Indian Navy.

• The vessels have a deep displacement of about 3,400 tonnes and will be equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment. 

• The ship is designed to operate at cruise speed of 14 knots and maximum speed of 18 knots. 

• Bow & Stern Thrusters have been catered for better manoeuvring at low speeds required during shallow water survey operations. 

• With a 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 ships are capable of providing limited defence, besides serving as hospital ships during emergencies.

Additional read:

What is hydrography?

Hydrography deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time, for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and in support of all other marine activities, including economic development, security and defence, scientific research and environmental protection.

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