Sanshodhak, the fourth of four ships of Survey Vessels (Large) SVL Project, being built by L and T/ GRSE for Indian Navy was launched on 13 June 2023 at Kattupalli, Chennai. Chief guest of Launch Ceremony was VAdm Adhir Arora, Chief Hydrographer to GoI. In keeping with Naval Maritime tradition, Smt Tanvi Arora launched the ship to inchanting of invocation from Atharva Veda. The ship named ‘Sanshodhak’, meaning ‘Researcher’, signifies primary role of ship as a Survey Vessel. The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between MoD and GRSE, Kolkata on 30 October 2018. As per the build strategy, first ship would be built at GRSE, Kolkata and construction of remaining three ships upto outfitting stage, has been sub-contracted to M/s L and T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli. The first three ships of project, Sandhayak, Nirdeshak and Ikshak were launched on 05 Dec 2021, 26 May 2022 and 26 Nov 2022 respectively. SVL ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships, with new generation hydrographic equipment, to collect oceanographic data. The Survey Vessel (Large) ships are 110m long, 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 a capability to carry four Survey Motor Boats and an integral helicopter, primary role of 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, ships are capable of providing limited defence, HADR, and can serve as Hospital ship during emergencies. 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 country. Launch of fourth Survey Vessel reinforces our resolve in indigenous shipbuilding, as part of Government’s vision of Make in India and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
