INS Sutlej (J17)

Last updated

College students being shown different aspects of hydrography onboard INS Sutlej (4).jpg
History
Naval Ensign of India.svgIndia
NameINS Sutlej
Namesake Sutlej River
Builder Goa Shipyard Limited
Launched1 December 1991
Commissioned19 February 1993
Identification
Statusin active service
General characteristics [1]
Class and type Sandhayak-class survey ship
Displacement1,929 long tons (1,960 t) full
Length87.8 m (288 ft 1 in)
Beam12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
Draft3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range
  • 6,000  nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
  • 14,000  nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement18 officers + 160 enlisted
Armament1 × Bofors 40 mm gun
Aircraft carried1 × HAL Chetak helicopter
Aviation facilities Helipad

INS Sutlej (J17) is a hydrographic survey ship of the Sandhayak class in the Indian Navy, under the Southern Naval Command. Like other ships of the same class, this ship is also equipped with an Operating Theater and associated equipment needed to attend to medical emergencies at sea. [2] [3]

Contents

Ship history

Built by Goa Shipyard Limited and commissioned into the Naval service at Kochi naval base. Sutlej is equipped with a range of surveying, navigational and communication systems. The next-generation surveying systems provided on board include the multi-beam swath echo sounding system, differential global positioning system, motion sensors, sea gravimeter, magnetometer oceanographic sensors, side scan sonars and an automated data logging system. These are designed to meet the stringent international/ISO 9002 digital survey accuracy standards required for the production of electronic navigation charts and publications.

Sutlej is powered by two diesel engines and is capable of sustained speeds. The ship's multi-role capability places her in the league of the most versatile survey vessels in the world. It can undertake a variety of tasks under trying conditions. Sutlej was the first ship to enter the newly built Karwar naval base harbour of INS Kadamba in 2004. [4] This ship is the namesake of HMIS Sutlej, the Black Swan-class sloop, which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.

Survey work

INS Sutlej in 2016 completed joint Hydrographic Survey of Mkoani harbour of Tanzania with the objective to prepare a navigational chart of the harbour that will be used by the port authorities and ships for navigation. [5] [6] In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami the ship was deployed to Sri Lanka to conduct hydrographic survey off the coast of Galle and Colombo harbours on request of Sri Lankan authorities. [7] Ship completed Medium Refit from 2010 to 2012 at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. On completion of refit she has undertaken Hydrographic Surveys of Porbandar, Kandla, Kerala Coast and Lakshadweep Islands. Alongside special meteorological, geo physical, tidal and tidal stream observations were carried out at Azhikkal, Kannur, Vadakara (Murat), Beypore and Kadalundi river mouth at the request of an external agency. [8] It underwent Medium Refit from 2019 to march 2021 at Hindustan shipyard Visakhaptnam and then returned to naval base Kochi at end of march 2021.Many challenges faces in refit due to Covid19 pandemic. In 2021, 4 months later, it undertook a survey of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a survey of Myanmar for 3 months in November 2021, and a survey of Port Blair. It also went for Maldives survey in April 2022. After few months it went for Gujarat and Goa survey in December 2022 then again in February 2023 it went for Myanmar for 2 months for survey.

Relief work

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami Sutlej alongside sister ship INS Jamuna, INS Sarvekshak, INS Ghorpad and INS Kirch was deployed as part of Operation Rainbow. The ships provided relief assistance in Sri Lanka in not just government held but also LTTE held rebel areas. [9] In mid 2016 Sutlej, was one of two Indian Navy ships sent to Colombo from Southern Naval Command in Kochi, the other being the patrol vessel INS Sunayna to help in relief work after Cyclone Roanu. [10] [11] In late 2016 Sutlej, provided relief assistance to the stricken fishing vessel Judan with seven crew on board by towing them to the Kanyakumari port. [12] The ship was also deployed in the aftermath of Gujarat earthquake at Kandla port to treat the injured. [2]

The Ship also Won Award of Best Ship 2022-23, unit citation 2022 and Best Survey Ship 2022-23.

Related Research Articles

INS <i>Darshak</i> (J21)

INS Darshak (J21) is a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy, under the Eastern Naval Command.

HMS <i>Diadem</i> (84) Cruiser of the Royal Navy

HMS Diadem was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Bellona subgroup of the Royal Navy. She was a modified Dido design with only four turrets but improved anti-aircraft armament – also known as Dido Group 2. She was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company at Hebburn-on-Tyne, UK, with the keel being laid down on 15 December 1939. She was launched on 26 August 1942, and completed on 6 January 1944.

INS <i>Magar</i> (L20)

INS Magar was the lead ship of Magar-class amphibious warfare vessels of the Indian Navy. She was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata and was commissioned by Admiral R.H. Tahiliani, Chief of the Naval Staff on 15 July 1987. The ship has a length of 120 metres and a beam of 17.5 metres. The main weapon systems of the ship consist of CRN 91 Guns, chaff launcher (Kavach) and the WM-18A Rocket launcher. The ship also carries four landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) on board, which can be used for the landing of troops.

<i>Saryu</i>-class patrol vessel Offshore patrol vessels of Indian Navy

The Saryu class of offshore patrol vessels (OPV) are advanced patrol ships of the Indian Navy built at the Goa Shipyard Limited. These vessels are capable of ocean surveillance and monitoring and can maintain control of shipping lanes. They can also be deployed to provide security to offshore oil installations, and other naval assets.

INS <i>Jamuna</i> (J16)

INS Jamuna (J16) is a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy, under the Southern Naval Command. Jamuna is equipped with a helicopter, a Bofors 40 mm gun, four survey motor boats, and two small boats. The ship has the distinction of being associated with relief work in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake, Tsunami 2004, as well as Operation Vijay during the Kargil war. Jamuna was also awarded a Mention in Dispatches.

<i>Makar</i>-class survey catamaran Catamarans of the Indian Navy

The Makar-class survey catamarans are a series of six 500 ton steel hull/aluminium superstructure Hydrographic Survey Catamarans being built by Alcock Ashdown (Gujarat) Ltd at its Bhavnagar shipyard for the Indian Navy. The ships are designed by an Australian naval architecture firm Sea Transport Solutions, which is based on Queensland's Gold Coast. The deal was canceled due to the extensive delays as the Navy was not satisfied with the timeline and a fresh award for construction of another class of survey vessels to the GRSE has also been undertaken.

INS <i>Shakti</i> (A57) Deepak-class fleet tanker

INS Shakti (A57) is a Deepak-class fleet tanker in service with the Indian Navy. She was built by Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste. She is the second and final ship of her class. Shakti, along with her predecessor Deepak, is one of the largest ships of the Indian Navy.

The Manoram-class ferry are series of watercraft built by Inland Marine Works Pvt Ltd Port Blair, at its Chanch Shipyard, Gujarat for Indian Navy. They are fully air-conditioned craft and are fitted with modern navigational aids and can ferry 250 passengers.

<i>Sandhayak</i>-class survey ship (1981)

The Sandhayak-class survey ships are a series of eight vessels built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata and Goa Shipyard, Ltd., Vasco for the Indian Navy. While Sandhayak, Investigator, Nirdeshak, Nirupak were built in GRSE; Sarveshak, Jamuna, Darshak, Sutlej were built by Goa Shipyard. The vessels equipped with four survey motor boats, two small boats and are powered by two diesel engines with a top speed of 16 knots. They have a helicopter deck and are also armed with a Bofors 40 mm/60 gun mount for self-defense.

INS <i>Sunayna</i> (P57)

INS Sunayna is the second Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, designed and constructed indigenously by the Goa Shipyard Limited. It is designed to undertake fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communications and offshore assets and escort duties.

INS <i>Sumitra</i> (P59) Indian Navy patrol vessel

INS Sumitra is the fourth and last Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, designed and constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited. It is also the presidential yacht of India. It is designed to undertake fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communications and offshore assets and escort duties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Roanu</span>

Cyclonic Storm Roanu was a relatively weak tropical cyclone that caused severe flooding in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh during May 2016. It is the first tropical cyclone of the annual cyclone season. Roanu originated from a low-pressure area that formed south of Sri Lanka, which gradually drifted north and intensified into a cyclonic storm on 19 May. However, wind shear and land interaction caused it to weaken slightly, before reintensifying as it accelerated towards the coast of Bangladesh.

INS <i>Sarvekshak</i> (J22) Indian hydrographic survey ship

INS Sarvekshak (J22) is a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy, under the Southern Naval Command. Apart from a helicopter and Bofors 40 mm gun, the ship is also equipped with four survey motor boats, two small boats. The ship was awarded the runner-up trophy in the 2015 Innovation Trophy awards given out on Navy Day as an operational unit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The award was given for developing an innovative solution for tidal measurement during hydrographic surveys by use of land based terrain mapping equipment and floating buoys mounted with prisms. The award was accepted by Captain Rajesh Bargoti, the commanding officer of INS Sarvekshak.

INS <i>Sandhayak</i> (J18)

INS Sandhayak (J18)(Hindi: संधायक lit. coordinator) was the lead ship of the Sandhayak class of survey ships. The ship operates as a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy, under the Eastern Naval Command. Apart from a helicopter and Bofors 40 mm gun for self defence, the ship is also equipped with four survey motor boats, two small boats. The ship can also analyse the level of pollution, sea level at various places, sea bed and marine wealth. Sandhayak is capable of conducting shallow coastal and deep oceanic hydrographic survey and collect oceanographic and geophysical data. The ship was decommissioned on 4 June 2021 after 40 years in service.

INS Nirupak (J20) was a Sandhayak-class hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy. The ship was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and commissioned into the Indian navy at Visakhapatnam naval base in 1985 under Eastern Naval Command.

INS <i>Investigator</i> (J15)

INS Investigator (J15) is the fourth ship in the Sandhayak class, and operates as a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command. Investigator is equipped to prepare marine charts and electronic maps for the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). It can provide humanitarian aid and disaster-management support, and can be quickly converted into a hospital ship; the ship is equipped with an operating theater and associated equipment to deal with medical emergencies at sea.

INS <i>Nirdeshak</i> (J19)

INS Nirdeshak (J19) was the sixth ship of the Sandhayak class of the Indian Navy. The ship operated as a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy, under the Eastern Naval Command. Nirdeshak was equipped to prepare a variety of marine charts and maps for ECDIS system. The ship's secondary role was to conduct humanitarian aid and disaster management operations, wherein the ship could be converted into a hospital ship. The ship was also equipped with an operating theater and associated equipment needed to attend to medical emergencies at sea.

The 2017 Sri Lanka floods resulted from a heavy southwest monsoon, beginning around 18 to 19 May 2017. Flooding was worsened by the arrival of the precursor system to Cyclone Mora, causing flooding and landslides throughout Sri Lanka during the final week of May 2017. The floods affected 15 districts, killed at least 208 people and left a further 78 people missing. As of 3 June, 698,289 people were affected, while 11,056 houses were partially damaged and another 2,093 houses completely destroyed. According to Al Jazeera, about 600,000 people have been displaced due to the floods.

INS <i>Sandhayak</i> (2021) Hydrographic survey ship

INS Sandhayak is the lead ship of her class of survey ships. It is a hydrographic survey ship built by GRSE for the Indian Navy.

References

  1. "J 17 Sandhayak Class". globalsecurity.org. 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Earthquake in Gujarat : Update on Relief and Rehabilitation Measures Death Toll 6072 and Injured 14512".
  3. "Floating hospital on a mission to Indonesia". The Hindu . 10 January 2005.[ dead link ]
  4. "INS Sutlej, first ship to enter new harbour". The Hindu . 5 December 2004.[ dead link ]
  5. "INS Sutlej on Overseas Deployment for Hydrographic Survey".
  6. "India hands over navigational chart of Mkoani harbour to Tanzania". 10 July 2016.
  7. "Indian HC visits tsunami affected Ampara".
  8. "Sail land to develop Beypore port". The Times of India . 17 February 2013.
  9. "Goodwill boat does what gunships don't-Naval fleet on way back after earning applause from Lanka govt and Tigers". Archived from the original on 12 March 2017.
  10. "INS Sunayna and Sutlej sent with relief material to Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Roanu". The Economic Times.
  11. "Indian Navy's INS Sunayna & INS Sutlej sent with relief material for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka". 20 May 2016.
  12. "Top news of December 17: Lt General Bipin Rawat appointed as new ArmyChief".