INS Sandhayak Completes Maiden Port Call at Singapore

INS Sandhayak, the first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) of Indian Navy with state-of-the-art hydrography capability concluded a fruitful maiden visit to Singapore. The ship departed from Changi Naval Base, Singapore on 12 August 2025, marking the culmination of a goodwill visit aligned with India’s Act East Policy and the Mahasagar initiative.

The visit coincided with Singapore’s National Day and strengthened the growing synergy in maritime domain awareness and hydrographic cooperation between both nations.

During the port call, the Commanding Officer Captain N Dheeraj called on Gary Chew, assistant chief hydrographer, Singapore and Colonel Chauah Meng Soon, Commander 9th Flotilla, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The interaction underscored the shared commitment to enhance hydrographic cooperation, sharing of best practices and deepening maritime domain co-operation in the region. Both sides acknowledged the critical role of accurate hydrography in ensuring navigational safety, protecting marine infrastructure, and supporting maritime trade.

A key highlight of the visit was hosting of RSN personnel onboard showcasing hydrographic capabilities of Indian Navy.

The visit featured a walk-through of state-of-the-art onboard systems. The team shared insights on hydrographic history, data capturing methods and also processing and joint operational roles in enhancing India-Singapore maritime synergy.

The ship also welcomed onboard a vibrant group of school children as part of an educational outreach programme. The young visitors were given an immersive tour of the vessel’s cutting-edge hydrographic equipment, survey boats, and chart production units.  The ship’s crew explained how ocean mapping helps ensure navigational safety, protect marine ecosystems etc.

The Indian Navy remains committed to regional cooperation, capacity-building, and enhancing maritime cooperation among the like-minded navies.