Indian Navy to commission third survey vessel Ikshak on November 6

The Indian Navy’s indigenously built ship, Ikshak, which will study underwater hydrography, is set to be commissioned on November 6 at the naval base in Kochi, Kerala. Ikshak is the third of four ships classified as ‘Survey Vessel (Large)’. The first ship of this class, INS Sandhayak, was commissioned in February 2024, and the second ship, INS Nirdeshak, was commissioned in December 2024. The contract for these four ships was signed in October 2018.

The ship is equipped to conduct full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and determine navigational channels. It will also collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civil applications. With a displacement of approximately 3,400 tons and an overall length of 110 meters, Ikshak is fitted with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment. This includes a data acquisition and processing system, autonomous underwater vehicle, remotely operated vehicle, long-range positioning systems, and digital side-scan sonar.

Powered by two diesel engines, the ship can achieve speeds in excess of 18 knots. It can accommodate 231 personnel and carry four survey motorboats, along with an integral helicopter.

The Ministry of Defence stated that as the third ship of its class, Ikshak’s induction underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to building advanced platforms, furthering the momentum of capability enhancement and self-reliance, and charting a new course in indigenous hydrographic excellence. The commissioning ceremony on November 6 will be presided over by Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.

Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata, under the supervision of the Directorate of Ship Production and the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata), Ikshak embodies over 80 per cent indigenous content. Beyond its primary role of hydrographic survey operations, Ikshak is designed with dual-role capability, serving as a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) platform and as a hospital ship during emergencies. Notably, Ikshak is also the first survey vessel with dedicated accommodation for women.