The third of the four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project vessels, “Ikshak”

At Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Navy recently debuted “Ikshak,” the third of the four survey vessels (Large) project.

‘Ikshak’ vessel

• Ikshak, which translates to “Guide,” is the name of the ship being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Larson and Toubro (L&T).
• The first ship in the class, Sandhayak, was launched on December 5, 2021 at GRSE, Kolkata.
• The ship’s name honours the role that Survey ships have played in guaranteeing mariner safety at sea. In order to collect oceanographic data, SVL ships will take the place of the current Sandhayak Class survey ships.

The ship

• The Survey Vessel (Large) ships are 110 m long, 16 m wide, and have a crew complement of 231 people. They can carry 3400 tonnes of cargo.
• Two main engines with dual shafts, each capable of a top speed of 18 knots and a cruise speed of 14 knots, make up the ship’s propulsion system.