The Navy will commission the second ship of the Survey Vessel project, INS Nirdeshak, on Wednesday (December 18) at the Naval Dockyard in Vishakapatnam.
The event will be led by Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth. Senior naval officials, dignitaries, and representatives from the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) will also take part in the event.
The Navy unveiled the crest of INS Nirdeshak and described it as “the Pathfinder of the Seas, the second ship of the Survey Vessel (Large) project, a beacon of excellence, precision, and India’s maritime pride”.
The crest symbolises the virtues of India’s maritime sovereignty and technological prowess.
“At its heart lies the proud symbol of the nation’s territorial integrity, serving as the backdrop to a hydrographic survey ship cutting through waves, harnessing the advanced satellite-based navigation and communication systems, and state-of-the-art sub-surface sensors to chart the underwater terrain with precision,” the navy said.
“This modern vessel carries forward the legacy of its namesake, the erstwhile INS Nirdeshak, which served the Navy for 32 years until its decommissioning in December 2014,” the Navy said.
INS Nirdeshak will play a pivotal role in strengthening the strategic presence of the country in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Navy said. The vessel will also contribute to foreign cooperation surveys, furthering India’s maritime diplomacy and regional partnerships.
KEY FEATURES OF INS NIRDESHAK
The naval ship was built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata and around 80 per cent of its components were made in India.
The 110-meter-long ship has a displacement of approximately 3,800 tons and is powered by two diesel engines, enabling it to achieve a top speed of over 18 knots.
It is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic and oceanographic equipment, it can conduct hydrographic surveys, aid navigation, and support various maritime operations.
The vessel has an endurance of over 25 days at sea, allowing it to operate effectively in both domestic and international waters.
