GRSE launches new Survey Vessel Sandhayak for Indian Navy in Kolkata

Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) on Sunday launched its first indigenously built large Survey Vessel Sandhayak for the Indian Navy. The ship was formally launched by Pushpa Bhatt, wife of Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt who was the Chief Guest at the event. Several other high ranking officials were present at the launch including Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, Rear Admiral V.K. Saxena (Retd.), Chairman and Managing, GRSE, and other senior officials of the GRSE, Indian Armed Forces and Industry.
 

GRSE's first large Survey Vessel Sandhayak launched in Kolkata | Key points

1. Sandhayak is the first out of the four Survey Vessel (Large) project for the Indian Navy and it strengthens the Government’s commitment to indigenous shipbuilding. The successful completion of the project takes India a step closer to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, said Ajay Bhatt.

2. The ship's primary function is to conduct full scale coastal & deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports & harbour approaches and the determination of navigational channels & routes. It can also undertake a survey of maritime limits and collection of oceanographic & geographical data for defence applications. The functionalities collectively have the capacity to boost the Indian Navy's capabilities.

Also Read | India ranked fourth most powerful country in Asia

3. Sandhayak can also perform search & rescue and disaster relief operations, besides serving as a hospital ship with limited facilities during emergencies. It is propelled by two marine diesel engines combined with fixed pitch propellers and fitted with bow & stern thrusters for manoeuvring at low speeds during surveys.

4. The ships were entirely designed and constructed by GRSE and the defence minister also said that the vessel has over 80 per cent indigenous content by cost. He further added that if such large-scale defence production is executed by the Indian manufacturing units, it will also generate employment opportunities and increase expertise in the industry.

Also Read | Delhi reports 1st Omicron case, patient has travel history from Tanzania

5. With 788 platform deliveries including 107 warships, GRSE has built the maximum number of warships built and delivered by any shipyard in India so far. Out of the 107 warships, 70 were built for the Indian Navy, 35  for the Indian Coast Guard, one for the Government of Mauritius and one for the Seychelles Coast Guard.