Sanshodhak, the fourth of four ships of the Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project, which is being built by L&T/GRSE for the Indian Navy, is reportedly expected to play a key role in hydrographic operations and maritime navigation support.
These giants can be fitted with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and advanced hydrographic survey equipment used for seabed mapping and navigational charting, reports claim.
Here are five facts about these ships that will impress the fans of the Indian Armed Forces:
1. The Survey Vessel (Large) ships are 110m long and 16m wide, with a displacement of 3,400 tons. The hull of these ships is made from indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel manufactured by SAIL. With the capability to carry four Survey Motor Boats and an integral helicopter, the primary role of the ships would be to undertake full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigational channels.
2. The ships would also be deployed to collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications. In their secondary role, the ships are capable of providing limited defence, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), and can serve as hospital ships during emergencies. Powered by two diesel engines, they can reportedly reach speeds of over 18 knots.
3. Sanshodhak was launched on June 13, 2023, at Kattupalli, Chennai. The ship was named ‘Sanshodhak’, meaning ‘Researcher’, to signify the primary role of the ship as a survey vessel. SVL ships will replace the existing Sandhayak-class survey ships with new-generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data.
4. The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between the MoD and GRSE, Kolkata, in October 2018. The first three ships of the project, Sandhayak, Nirdeshak and Ikshak, were launched on December 05, 2021, May 26, 2022, and November 26, 2022, respectively.
5. The Survey Vessels Large will have over 80% indigenous content by cost, ensuring defence production by Indian manufacturing units, with a spin-off in employment generation and warship-building capability in the country.
