INS Nirdeshak, the second ship out of the Indian Navy’s four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) projects, being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in association with L&T shipbuilding has been launched at Kattupalli, Chennai.
What are the features of the SVL ships?
- The ships are designed to operate at a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruise speed of 14 knots.
- The Sandhayak Class survey ships will be replaced by the SVL ships.
- The SVL ships are fitted with new generation hydrographic equipment so that they can collect oceanographic data.
- The ships will be able to carry four survey motorboats along with an integral helicopter.
- The primary role of the SVL ships would be to undertake deep-water and coastal surveys of navigational channels and ports.
- The ships will also be used to collect geophysical and oceanographic data for civil as well as defence applications.
- The secondary role of the ships will be to provide limited defence, along with serving as hospital ships during emergencies.
- The ships are fitted with bow and stern Thrusters for better low-speed manoeuvring that is required during survey operations on shallow water.
- The hull of the SVL ships are constructed with indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel that is manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
Where has the name of this ship been taken from?
The name of the ship has been taken from the erstwhile Nirdeshak, an earlier ship of the Indian Navy, and was decommissioned in December 2014 after 32 years of service.