Visakhapatnam: In a significant stride towards enhancing India’s maritime capabilities, the first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship, INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025), was commissioned into the Indian Navy on February 3, 2024. The ceremony, graced by the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, unfolded at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, marking a historic moment for the nation.
The primary role of INS Sandhayak is to conduct comprehensive hydrographic surveys encompassing ports, harbors, navigational channels, coastal regions, and deep-sea areas. This function is pivotal in ensuring safe marine navigation. Additionally, the ship is equipped to undertake a spectrum of naval operations in its secondary role.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, addressing the ceremony, deemed the commissioning as a historic milestone. He expressed confidence that INS Sandhayak would fortify India’s stature as a superpower in the Indo-Pacific region, contributing significantly to maintaining peace and security. Drawing parallels between a nation’s development and an individual’s growth, he highlighted the evolving stages from dependence to independence and, eventually, the ability to safeguard oneself and others.
The Raksha Mantri underscored the critical role of the Indian Ocean in global trade and identified choke points like the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Guinea, emphasizing the need to address threats such as piracy. He assured that India’s stance against maritime piracy and smuggling would be unwavering, echoing the commitment of ‘New India.’
Commending the Indian Navy’s prompt response to challenges, Shri Rajnath Singh lauded its efforts in extinguishing a fire on a British ship in the Gulf of Aden. He asserted that the Navy, with its increasing power, is determined to eradicate anarchy not only from the region but from the entire world.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar emphasized the growing importance of hydrographic surveys in naval operations. He highlighted the Navy’s commitment to indigenously developing state-of-the-art platforms, contributing to the nation’s ‘Aatmanirbhar’ force.
INS Sandhayak, a product of collaborative efforts between the Indian Navy and industry, boasts state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment, including multi-beam echo sounders, autonomous underwater vehicles, and remotely operated vehicles. With a displacement of 3,400 tons and an indigenous content exceeding 80%, the ship signifies India’s expertise in warship design and construction.
The commissioning of INS Sandhayak aligns with India’s strategic objectives of ensuring a rules-based world order, maintaining freedom of navigation, and fostering peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region. The ship is poised to play a crucial role in achieving these objectives and contributing to the nation’s maritime interests.
The event concluded with optimism for India’s maritime future, as the Indian Navy continues its commitment to safeguarding the seas and promoting global peace and security.