VISAKHAPATNAM: Defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned Indian Navy’s survey vessel Sandhayak in Vizag on Saturday. The latest ship is expected to boost the sea force’s surveillance apparatus in the strategic waterways.
The induction of Sandhayak into the Navy is the first of four survey vessel (large) ships under construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
Commissioning the ship, Rajnath Singh said that Indian Navy prevented the pirate hijacks and saved the hijacked vessels. He said Indian Navy has been playing a vital role for free trade in oceans and prepared to prevent the possible pirate attacks.
The ship was built at GRSE Kolkata and has over 80% indigenous content reaffirming India’s expertise in design and warship construction. The 110-meter ship, displacing about 3800 tons is powered by two diesel engines and has been re-incarnated in its present avatar from erstwhile Sandhayak which was decommissioned on June 4, 20 21. The ship has an endurance of over 25 days and can achieve speeds over 18 Knots, making her a formidable asset for mapping our waters and becoming an important part of India’s outreach in the Indian Ocean Region through the conduct of Foreign Cooperation Surveys.