INS Darshak conducting joint survey of Sri Lankan bay

INS Darshak, the Indian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship is on a two-month deployment in the Sri Lankan waters since March 3, 2017.

• Along with Sri Lankan Navy, it is jointly undertaking a hydrographic survey of Weligama Bay which was last studied in 1901. Weligama Bay is located in Southern Province of Sri Lanka, about 130 km south-east of the capital city Colombo.

About INS Darshak:

• INS Darshak was commissioned on April 28, 2001 at Visakhapatnam under Eastern Naval Command of Indian Navy.
• Built by Goa Shipyard Ltd. it has beenindigenously designed and constructed.
• It is a specialised survey vessel, fitted with the state-of-the-art survey, navigation and communication equipments like side scan sonar, multi-beam system, sea gravimeter and a fully automated digital surveying and processing system.
• INS Darshak is presently commanded by Captain Peush Pawsey and has a complement of 20 officers and 200 sailors.
• In last few years, INS Darshak has participated in various foreign cooperation surveys in Mauritius, the Seychelles, Myanmar, Mozambique and Tanzania.
• INS Darshak is also carrying an integral Chetak Helicopter, which will assist in this survey.

During the course of this hydrographic survey, Sri Lankan Navy personnel will be provided training on advanced hydrographic practices. INS Darshak will also visit Colombo and Galle harbour on south-western coast of Sri Lanka. It will also participate in several joint exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy.