**INS Sandhayak to be decommissioned after 40 years of service**

INS Sandhayak, the Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built Hydrographic Survey Ship will be decommissioned on Friday, June 4 after serving the nation for 40 years.

The decommissioning ceremony of INS Sandhayak will be held at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. Due to Covid-19 protocols in place, only the in-station officers and sailors will attend the ceremony and strict Covid-19 protocols will be followed.

**About INS Sandhayak**

INS Sandhayak conducted shallow coastal and deep-sea hydrographic surveys and collected oceanographic and geophysical data, under the Eastern Naval Command. In addition to conducting surveys, it also assisted as military transport and casualty-carrying vessels in times of war and natural disasters.

Apart from a helicopter and Bofors 40 mm gun for self-defence, the ship was equipped with four survey motor boats and two small boats. It could also analyse the pollution level, sea level at different locations, sea bed, and marine wealth.

In its illustrious 40 years of service, the ship saw 22 commanding officers at the helm, with the last commanding the ship on June 17, 2019.

**Mission under INS Sandhayak**

The ship has conducted approximately 200 major hydrographic surveys and was a part of several minor surveys on the east and west coasts of the country, the Andaman Sea, and several neighbouring countries.

Apart from survey missions, it has been an active participant in many important missions. During Operation Pawan, the ship assisted the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in 1987. After the 2004 tsunami under Operation Sarong and Operation Rainbow, the ship performed humanitarian aid work. It also participated in the earlier joint Indo-US HADR exercise ‘Tiger-Triumph’.

**Commissioning of INS Sandhayak**

The ship was conceptualised by the then Chief Hydrographer, Rear Admiral FL Fraser. The ship’s construction began in 1978 at GRSE Kolkata with laying of the keel after its design was finalised by the Naval Headquarters. The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on February 26, 1981, by Vice Admiral MK Roy, the then Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (ENC).

With the sunset on Friday, the Naval Ensign and the Commissioning Pennant will be flown for the last time on INS Sandhayak, symbolising its decommissioning.