Navy’s survey ship at Rameswaram

The ship carrying pennant number J18 and displacing 1800 tonnes is meant for shallow coastal surveys and collects information on oceanographic and geophysical data to produce digital navigational charts and publications, according to official sources. 

The vessel will also check the depth of the sea bed in the Palk Strait. Checking ocean depth in the Palk Strait will ensure that vessels with deeper draught are able to navigate this channel. With the Sethu Samudram project to dredge and deepen the Palk Strait being given up due to domestic politics, merchant vessels have to go around Sri Lanka to reach ports on India’s eastern coast. 

Commissioned on March 14, 1981, the ship from its home port at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh carries a helicopter and a Bofors gun for protection. It can double as a troop transport and casualty holding ship during war, sources added. It is one of the 7 Sandhayak class survey ships of the Indian Navy.