Survey Vehicle Ikshak

November 29, 2022

‘Ikshak’ was launched on November 26 in Chennai. The vessel was set sail in the Bay of Bengal at a Launch Ceremony.

About Ikshak

Ikshak is the third of the four survey vessels built under the Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project for the Indian Navy.
It was built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd in partnership with the Larsen and Toubro (L&T).
The vessel has been named ‘Ikshak’, which means “Guide”. The name signifies the contribution of survey vessels towards facilitating safe passage for Mariners at Sea.

About the SVL project

The GRSE and the Ministry of Defence have signed a Rs.2,435 crore contract to build four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) in 2018. Under this project, the first ship was at GRSE, Kolkata. The remaining three ships are being constructed (upto outfitting stage) by the subcontractor L&T Shipbuilding. The first SVL under this contract, ‘Sandhayak’, was delivered in December 2021 at GRSE in Kolkata.

The vessels developed under this project will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships. The new SVL ships are 110 meters long and 16 meters wide, with deep displacement of 3400 tons. A single SVL vessel is capable of accommodating 231 personnel. The hull of these vessels is made of indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel manufactured by the Steel Authority of India Limited. These ships have some 80 per cent of indigenous content by cost.

Their propulsion system of the SVL has two Main Engines in twin shaft configuration, designed to reach a maximum speed of 18 knots. It has new-generation hydrographic equipment capable of collecting accurate oceanographic data. One of the key features of this vessel is the integration of Bow & Stern Thrusters that improve the low-speed maneuverability, which is required during surveys conducted in shallow waters.

What are the uses of the survey vessel?

The SVL is capable of carrying four Survey Motor Boats and an integral helicopter. It can undertake full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigation channels. This vessel will be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for civil and defence applications. It is also capable of providing limited defence and serving as a hospital ship during the times of emergencies.

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