Indian Navy launches third ‘Ikshak’ survey vessel

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian Navy launches third ‘Ikshak’ survey vessel” published in PIB on 27th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Indian Navy has launched the third Ikshak Survey Vessel.

What is Ikshak?

Ikshak is the third of the four survey vessels (Large) project.

Built by: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited and L&T Shipbuilding.

The ship has been named ‘Ikshak’, which means ‘Guide’, to signify the contribution of the survey ships towards facilitating safe passage for mariners at sea.

What is the Survey Vessel (Large) ships project?

Survey Vessel (Large) ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships with new-generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data. 

Purpose: The primary role of the ships would be to undertake full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports and navigational channels. 

– The ships would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications. In their secondary role, the ships are capable of providing limited defence besides serving as Hospital ships during emergencies.

Features: One of the key elements of the ships is the integration of Bow & Stern Thrusters which have been catered for better manoeuvring at low speeds required during shallow water survey operations. 

Significance: The ships will have over 80% indigenous content by cost. This will ensure that large-scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units thereby generating employment and capability build-up within the country.