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Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) has delivered ‘Ikshak’, the third ship in the Survey Vessel (Large) class, to the Indian Navy. The 102nd warship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built at GRSE’s Kolkata yard, Ikshak, was handed over following a comprehensive series of harbour and sea trials, according to the Indian Navy.
The SVL project, contracted on October 30, 2018, comprises four vessels. The first two – INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak – were commissioned on February 3, 2024 and December 18, 2024, respectively. The fourth vessel is currently under construction.
With a displacement of around 3,400 tonnes and an overall length of 110 metres, ‘Ikshak’ is equipped with advanced hydrographic and oceanographic survey systems. These include a Data Acquisition and Processing System, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle, DGPS long-range positioning systems, and digital side-scan sonar. The vessel is capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys, mapping port and harbour approaches, and determining navigational routes. It can also collect oceanographic and geophysical data for both defence and civilian applications.
Powered by two diesel engines, Ikshak can achieve speeds of over 18 knots. According to the statement, the ship has an indigenous content of over 80% by cost, reflecting the Indian Navy’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Significantly, it is the first SVL ship to be delivered with accommodation for women officers and sailors.
The keel of Ikshak was laid on August 6, 2021, and the ship was launched on 26 November 2022. Its delivery highlights the collaborative contributions of GRSE, the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata), Indian industry, and numerous MSMEs in bolstering India’s maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region, the statement stated.
Furthermore, 14 additional warships for the Navy will be constructed, including two P17A Advanced Guided Missile Frigates, one SVL, seven Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts, and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels.
Team BharatShakti
