INS Sandhayak (2021)

For other ships with the same name, see INS Sandhayak (J18).

INS Sandhayak (Hindi: संधायक lit. coordinator) is the lead ship of her class of survey ships. It is a hydrographic survey ship built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.^[3][6]

Sandhayak during sea trials
History
India
Name	Sandhayak
Namesake	Sandhayak
Ordered	30 October 2018[1]
Builder	Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Yard number	3025
Laid down	8 November 2019[2]
Launched	5 December 2021[3]
Acquired	4 December 2023[4]
Commissioned	3 February 2024[5]
Identification	Pennant number: J18
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Sandhayak-class survey vessel
Displacement	3,300 tonnes (3,248 long tons)
Length	110 m (360 ft 11 in)
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range	6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) to 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs)
Complement	231
Sensors & processing systems	Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) Multi Beam Echo Sounders
Armament	CRN 91 naval gun
Aircraft carried	1 × HAL Dhruv
Aviation facilities	Helipad

Design

The ships have a displacement of 3,300 tonnes (3,248 long tons) and a length of 110 metres (360 ft 11 in). They have a cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) with a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and an operating range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at a speed of 14 to 16 knots (26 to 30 km/h; 16 to 18 mph). The ships have a complement of 231 and are equipped with hydrographic sensor equipment and a hangar which can accommodate one advanced light helicopter. In the secondary role, the ships can be fitted with a CRN 91 naval gun. In addition, the vessels will follow MARPOL (marine pollution) Standards of the International Maritime Organisation and will be built per Classification Society Rules and Naval Ship Regulations.^[7]

The primary role of the vessels would be to conduct coastal and deep-water hydro-graphic survey of ports, navigational channels, Exclusive Economic Zones and collection of oceanographic data for defence. Their secondary role would be to perform search & rescue, ocean research and function as hospital ships for casualties.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Construction

The class of the survey vessel were ordered on 30 October 2018 by the Ministry of Defence to the GRSE for its design, construction and delivery to the Indian Navy.^[1] The keel of the ship was laid on 8 November 2019^[2] and launched on 5 December 2021.^[3] She is the lead ship of her class.

The ship was delivered on the eve of Navy Day celebration on 4 December 2023.^[4] The ship was commissioned on 3 February 2024 in Visakhapatnam.^[12][13]

Service history

On 19 July 2025, Sandhayak made her maiden port call at Port Klang, Malaysia following a hydrographic operation from 16–19 July.^[14]

Gallery

• 
  Sandhayak during its launch ceremony.
• 
  Sandhayak (2021) during commissioning ceremony

See also

• Sandhayak-class survey vessel (2023) - class of survey ship