New Delhi: The Indian Navy will commission its latest survey ship, Nirdeshak, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, in presence of Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on December 18.
The ceremony will be hosted by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command and attended by distinguished guests, including senior naval officials and GRSE representatives, an Indian Navy statement said on Friday.
The ship, built at GRSE Kolkata, boasts over 80 percent indigenous content, reaffirming India’s expertise in ship design and construction and Indian Navy’s focus towards Aatmanirbharta.
The 110-meter-long vessel, with a displacement of approximately 3800 tons, is powered by two diesel engines and is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic and oceanographic survey equipment.
Nirdeshak, the second ship of the Survey Vessel (Large) Project, is designed to conduct hydrographic surveys, aid in navigation, and support maritime operations. It represents the reincarnation of the erstwhile Nirdeshak, which served the Indian Navy with distinction for 32 years until its decommissioning on 19 December, 2014.
With an endurance of over 25 days at sea and a top speed exceeding 18 knots, INS Nirdeshak is set to enhance India’s maritime capabilities. It will play a pivotal role in mapping the nation’s waters and strengthening India’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean Region through its foreign cooperation surveys.
