Indian Navy Inducts Final Survey Vessel Sanshodhak
06 Apr 2026 CW Team
The Indian Navy has inducted Sanshodhak, the fourth and final Survey Vessel (Large), following its delivery at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, Kolkata on 30 March 2026. The vessel, Yard 3028, was designed by the Indian Navy Warship Design Bureau and completes a contract for four Survey Vessel (Large) ships signed on 30 October 2018. The previous ships of the class, INS Sandhayak, INS Nirdeshak and INS Ikshak, were commissioned on 03 February 2024, 18 December 2024 and 06 November 2025 respectively.\n\nThe ships are designed and built as per the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping and are configured for full scale coastal and deep water hydrographic survey of port and harbour approaches and the determination of navigational channels and routes. The role also includes the collection of oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civil applications. The delivery follows a comprehensive programme of harbour and sea trials.\n\nSanshodhak has a displacement of 3,400 tonne (t) and an overall length of 110 metres and is fitted with advanced hydrographic equipment including a data acquisition and processing system, an autonomous underwater vehicle, a remotely operated vehicle, DGPS long range positioning systems and a digital side scan sonar. The ship is powered by two diesel engines and can achieve speeds in excess of 18 knots. Sensor suites and platforms have been integrated to support surveying operations over extended sea periods.\n\nThe keel of the ship was laid in June 2022 and the vessel was launched in June 2023, with delivery marking the culmination of the construction schedule. The ship has indigenous content in excess of eighty per cent by cost and its delivery was described as a testament to the Government of India and the Indian Navy's focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and to the collaborative efforts of a wide range of stakeholders, including MSMEs and the Indian industry in enhancing maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region.