Indian Navy to commission indigenous survey vessel Ikshak at Kochi on Nov 6
New Delhi, November 5. The Indian Navy is set to commission Ikshak, the third ship in the indigenously built Survey Vessel-Large (SVL class), at the Naval Base in Kochi on November 6, 2025. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi will preside over the commissioning ceremony. Once inducted, Ikshak will be based at the Southern Naval Command, enhancing the Navy’s hydrographic survey capabilities.
Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., Kolkata, Ikshak exemplifies India’s growing self-reliance in shipbuilding under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The vessel incorporates more than 80 percent indigenous components, achieved through close collaboration between GRSE and Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The name Ikshak, meaning “Guide” in Sanskrit, reflects the ship’s mission of precision and purpose. Designed to carry out comprehensive hydrographic surveys of ports, harbours and navigational channels, the ship will play a vital role in ensuring maritime safety by generating accurate data for safe navigation.
Fitted with advanced hydrographic and oceanographic systems – including a high-resolution multi-beam echo sounder, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and four survey motor boats (SMBs) – Ikshak adds significant versatility to the Navy’s survey fleet. A helicopter deck further enhances its operational range and mission flexibility.
The commissioning of Ikshak represents a major step forward in strengthening India’s maritime charting infrastructure. As a testament to indigenous innovation and technological excellence, the vessel is poised to play a key role in mapping the nation’s vast maritime domain and bolstering its maritime security framework.
