Context: Recently Ikshak, the third of the four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project for Indian Navy was launched.
About Ikshak Survey Vessel:
‘Ikshak’, the third of the four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project, being built by GRSE/L&T for Indian Navy was launched at Kattupalli, Chennai.
The ship has been named ‘Ikshak’ which means ‘Guide’. The ship has been named to signify the contribution of the Survey ships towards facilitating safe passage for Mariners at Sea.
Survey vessels -large (SVL) ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships with new generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data.
The Survey Vessel (Large) ships are 110 m long, 16 m wide with deep displacement of 3400 tons and a complement of 231 personnel.
The hull of these ships is made from indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited.
The primary role of the ships would be to undertake full scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports and navigational channels.
The ships would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications.
In their secondary role, the ships are capable of providing limited defence, besides serving as Hospital ships during emergencies.
