Sandhayak-class survey vessel (2023)

Series of four survey vessels for the Indian Navy

Class overview
Sandhayak (J18) during sea trials
Builders	Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Operators	Indian Navy
Preceded by	Makar class
Planned	4
Building	2
Completed	2
Active	2
General characteristics
Type	Hydrographic survey ship
Displacement	3,300 tonnes (3,248 long tons)
Length	110 m (360 ft 11 in)
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range	6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) to 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	231
Sensors and processing systems	Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) Multi Beam Echo Sounders
Armament	CRN 91 naval gun
Aircraft carried	1 × HAL Dhruv helicopter
Aviation facilities	Helipad

The Sandhayak-class survey vessels are a series of four survey vessels being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata for the Indian Navy. The first vessel was commissioned in 2021. The primary role of the vessels would be to conduct coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of ports, navigational channels, Exclusive Economic Zones and collection of oceanographic data for defence. Their secondary role would be to perform search & rescue, ocean research and function as hospital ships for casualties.

History

In April 2016, the Indian Navy issued a request for proposal to six shipyards, four public and two private, for the construction of four large survey vessels. In September 2017, GRSE emerged as the lowest bidder with a bid of ₹2,435.15 crore (equivalent to ₹34 billion or US$410 million in 2023), beating L&T Shipbuilding by ₹742 crore (equivalent to ₹10 billion or US$120 million in 2023). The contract was awarded to GRSE by Ministry of Defence on 30 October 2018. The first ship is expected to be delivered within 36 months from the date of signing the contract.

Design

The ships have a displacement of 3,300 tonnes (3,248 long tons) and a length of 110 metres (360 ft 11 in). They have a cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) with a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and an operating range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at a speed of 14 to 16 knots (26 to 30 km/h; 16 to 18 mph). The ships have a complement of 231 and are equipped with hydrographic sensor equipment and a hangar which can accommodate one advanced light helicopter. In the secondary role, the ships can be fitted with a CRN 91 naval gun. In addition, the vessels will follow MARPOL (marine pollution) Standards of the International Maritime Organisation and will be built per Classification Society Rules and Naval Ship Regulations.

Development

The keel of the first ship Sandhayak ,named after its predecessor Sandhayak, was laid down on 8 November 2019 and launched on 5 December 2021. It was expected to be commissioned by 2023, the boat was commissioned on 3 February 2024.

The second vessel of the class, Nirdeshak , was laid on 1 December 2020 and was subsequently launched on 26 May 2022. The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on 8 October 2024. The ship was commissioned on 18 December 2024.

The third ship, Ikshak, was laid down on 6 August 2021 and launched on 26 November 2022.

The fourth and the last ship, Sanshodhak, was laid down on 17 June 2022, and launched on 13 June, 2023.

Ships of the class

Name	Pennant	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Home-port	Status
Indian Navy
Sandhayak	J18	3025	GRSE	8 November 2019	5 December 2021	3 February 2024	Visakhapatnam	Active
Nirdeshak	J19	3026		1 December 2020	26 May 2022	18 December 2024	Visakhapatnam	Active
Ikshak	J23	3027		6 August 2021	26 November 2022	March 2025 (expected)		On harbor trails
Sanshodhak	J24	3028		17 June 2022	13 June 2023	June 2025 (expected)		Launched