TSAMTO, December 7. The Ministry of Defense of India announced on December 5 at the GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers) launch ceremony of the main large hydrographic vessel SVL (Survey Vessel Large), designed for the country's Navy.
The Sandhayak is the first of four large hydrographic vessels to be delivered to the Indian Navy under a contract signed with GRSE in 2018.
As reported by TSAMTO, the contract is worth 24.35 billion. Rupees ($329.8 million) for the development of the project, construction and delivery of four 3,300-ton SVL hydrographic vessels for the Indian Navy was signed by the Ministry of Defense of India with GRSE following a tender in October 2018. The laying of the keel of the lead ship took place in August 2019.
In accordance with the construction strategy adopted by GRSE, the lead vessel will be built at the company's own shipyard, and the construction of three more vessels will be carried out by Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding in Kattupalli.
It is expected that the first vessel will be handed over to the Indian Navy within 36 months from the date of signing the contract, and the remaining three platforms - with a six-month interval. The project must be completed within 54 months of the conclusion of the contract.
Vessels with a length of 110 m and a displacement of 3,300 tons with a crew of 231 people will be equipped with modern hydrographic equipment and sensors that allow for full-scale coastal and deep-sea hydrographic surveys of the waters of ports and harbors. The vessels can also be used for filming in the exclusive economic zone of India, conducting search and rescue operations, collecting oceanographic data, as a floating hospital. A retractable hangar for the Dhruv helicopter will be placed on board.
GRSE carried out the design and development of the vessel in accordance with the requirements of the Indian Navy. As stated, more than 80% of the cost of the ship is accounted for by components of national production.
