Ernakulam: INS Ikshak is preparing to join the Indian Navy. The ship will be formally commissioned into service today (Thursday) at a ceremony at the Kochi Naval Base. The ceremony will be presided over by Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi. INS Ikshak is the third large, indigenously built survey vessel.
The name ‘Ikshak’ means ‘guide’. The ship’s Captain and Commanding Officer, Tribhuvan Singh, said that true to its name, INS Ikshak is a guide for all sailors. He said the ship’s message is one of fearlessness, courage, and guidance. This country’s largest survey vessel is poised to write an important chapter in the Indian Navy’s history of progress. INS Ikshak will be dedicated to mapping vast oceanic areas, ensuring safe passage for sailors, and enhancing India’s maritime power.
Although its primary mission is hydrographic surveying, Ikshak is also capable of serving as a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) platform and a hospital ship in emergencies. In the event of natural disasters, wartime, and ship accidents, Ikshak’s capabilities will make naval operations more effective.
Key Features of INS Ikshak:
Operational Control: Defense spokesperson Atul Pillai told ETV Bharat that INS Ikshak will operate under the National Hydrographic Office (NHI) based in Dehradun.
Purpose: It is a hydrographic survey vessel of the Indian Navy.
Survey Equipment: It is equipped with four survey boats, an underwater autonomous vehicle, and a remotely operated vehicle equipped with HD cameras.
Function: It surveys and maps a portion of the ocean to provide maps to merchant ships and warships. Accommodation: Ikshak is the Navy’s first large survey vessel with dedicated accommodation facilities for female officers of the Indian Navy. Atul Pillai stated that all future naval ships will follow this model.
Advanced Systems: The ship features the most modern survey and navigation systems, including artificial intelligence, which enable accurate mapping of deep sea and coastal areas and ensure the accuracy of nautical maps. This helps identify underwater obstacles, including icebergs, and create safe routes for ships.
Dual Role – Hospital Ship: While primarily a survey ship focused on oceanographic studies (determining depth, creating navigation maps, and studying changes in the seabed), it also serves as a hospital in its secondary role.
Medical Facilities: The onboard medical facility is commonly referred to as the “sick bay.” Currently, it has a 6-bed hospital, which includes an operating theater, blood bank, ultrasound scans, and all other treatment facilities. If necessary, the hospital’s capacity can be expanded to 40 beds. Chief Medical Officer Atul N. Gopinath confirmed that the ship can provide services ranging from first aid to surgery.
INS IKSHAK’S CONSTRUCTION:
Builder: The ship was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, under the supervision of the Warship Design Bureau and the Warship Inspection Team.
Indigenous Materials: Over 80 percent of the components used in construction are indigenous, a result of collaboration between GRSE and the Indian MSME sector.
Engines: INS IKSHAK is a twin-engine ship.
Specifications:
Length: 110 meters
Width: 16 meters
Displacement/Carrying Capacity: 3400 tons
Crew: 231 personnel (20 officers and 211 sailors)
Speed: 16 to a maximum cruising speed of 18 knots.
Propulsion: Twin MAN diesel engines with fixed-pitch propellers and stern thrusters.
Aviation: Emergency helicopter accommodation.
Significance: INS Ikshak is the third ship of the Survey Vessel (Large) class and the first of her class to be headquartered at the Southern Naval Command.
