‘Nirdeshak’, the second of the four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project being built by GRSE in collaboration with L&T shipbuilding for the Indian Navy was launched on 27 May at Kattupalli, Chennai.
Designed to operate at a cruise speed of 14 knots and a maximum speed of 18 knots, the SVL ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships.
The SVL ships have been fitted with new generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data. The Survey Vessel (Large) ships have a deep displacement of about 3400 tons and can carry 235 personnel.The hull of these ships is made from indigenously developed steel manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
The ship can carry four survey motorboats and an integral helicopter. The main role of the ships would be to undertake full scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigational channels.The vessels would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications.
INS Nirdeshak capable of providing limited defence
In their secondary role, the ships are capable of providing limited defence, besides serving as hospital ships during emergencies.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, the release stated.The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on 30 October 18. The first of class ship ‘Sandhayak’ was launched in December last year.The launch ceremony was attended by Vice-Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
