**Summary:**
On August 9, 2025, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sandhayak, the first indigenously built Survey Vessel Large (SVL) with advanced hydrographic capabilities, arrived in Singapore's Changi Naval Base for a three-day visit coinciding with Singapore's National Day. This visit underscores India's dedication to regional maritime cooperation and represents a substantial advancement in reinforcing hydrographic relations between the Indian Navy and Singapore's maritime agencies. Furthermore, it highlights India's increasing role in maritime diplomacy and regional hydrographic capacity building, operating under the Indian Navy's Hydrographic Department framework.
INS Sandhayak, commissioned in February 2024, possesses comprehensive coastal and deepwater surveying capabilities and is equipped for SAR/humanitarian operations with onboard helicopter and hospital facilities. The ship's inaugural visit to Singapore is geared towards enabling technical and professional exchanges and sustained hydrographic support engagements.
Key activities planned during the visit encompass a meeting between the Commanding Officer and Mr. Gary Chew, Assistant Chief Hydrographer of Singapore, as well as a courtesy visit to Colonel Chauah Meng Soon, Commander 9th Flotilla, Royal Singapore Navy (RSN). Additional activities include visits by Royal Singapore Navy personnel onboard INS Sandhayak to showcase the hydrographic capabilities of the Indian Navy. A visit for school children and families of the Office of High Commissioner of India (HCI) is also scheduled.
Key Entities Referenced
INS Sandhayak: Indian Naval Ship Sandhayak, the first indigenous Survey Vessel Large (SVL)
Changi Naval Base, Singapore: A naval base in Singapore where INS Sandhayak visited.
Indian Navy: The naval force of India.
Singapore: A country in Southeast Asia where INS Sandhayak visited.
Hydrographic Department: A department of the Indian Navy responsible for hydrographic surveys and charting.
Raksha Mantri: The Defence Minister of India.
Royal Singapore Navy: The naval force of Singapore.
Mr Gary Chew: Assistant Chief Hydrographer, Singapore
Ministry of Defence
INS SANDHAYAK IN CHANGI NAVAL BASE,
SINGAPORE
Posted On: 09 AUG 2025 6:50PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Naval Ship Sandhayak, the first indigenous Survey Vessel Large (SVL) with state of the art
hydrography capability entered Singapore on the momentous occasion of its National Day - 09 Aug
25 for a three-day visit. The visit reaffirms India’s commitment to regional maritime cooperation and
marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral hydrographic ties between the Indian Navy and
Singapore’s maritime agencies.
The visit also demonstrates India’s growing leadership in maritime diplomacy and regional hydrographic
capacity building under the Indian Navy's Hydrographic Department framework.
INS Sandhayak was commissioned in Feb 2024 in presence of the Hon'ble Raksha Mantri. The ship has
full‑scale coastal and deep‑water surveying capacity and is capable of SAR/humanitarian operations with
onboard helicopter and hospital functions.
The maiden visit of the ship to Singapore aims at facilitating technical/ professional exchanges and sustained
hydrographic support engagements.
Key activities during the visit include call on Mr Gary Chew, Assistant Chief Hydrographer, Singapore and
courtesy call on Colonel Chauah Meng Soon, Commander 9th Flotilla, Royal Singapore Navy (RSN) by the
Commanding Officer.
Other activities include visit of Royal Singapore Navy personnel onboard and showcasing of hydrographic
capabilities of Indian Navy. A visit for school children and families of the Office of High Commissioner of
India (HCI) onboard is also scheduled as a part of the visit._____________________________________________________________
VM/SKY 152/25
(Release ID: 2154707)