Nirdeshak (Yard 3026), second of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships, steered by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau WDB and being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers GRSE, Kolkata was delivered to Indian Navy on 08 October 2024. The first ship of the class, INS Sandhayak, was commissioned on 03 February 2024. The contract for four Survey Vessels (SVL) was signed on 30 October 2018. The SVL ships are designed and built as per classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping IRS by GRSE, Kolkata. The ship aims at full scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of port/ harbour approaches and determination of navigational channels/ routes. The ship will also collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civil applications. With a displacement of about 3400 tons and overall length of 110 meters, Nirdeshak is fitted with state-of-the art hydrographic equipment such as data acquisition and processing system, autonomous underwater vehicle, remotely operated vehicle, DGPS long range positioning systems, digital side scan sonar, etc. Powered by two diesel engines, the ship can achieve speeds in excess of 18 knots. The keel of the ship was laid on 01 December 2020 and the ship was launched on 26 May 2022. The ship has undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea prior to its delivery. Nirdeshak has an indigenous content of over 80% by cost. The delivery of Nirdeshak is a reassurance on impetus of Government of India GoI and Indian Navy towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The delivery of Nirdeshak is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of a large number of stakeholders, MSMEs and the Indian industry in enhancing the maritime prowess of the nation in Indian Ocean Region IOR.
