Consider the following statements about Sandhayak, a Survey Vessel Ship, which was delivered to the Indian Navy in December 2023 :

1. One of the primary roles of the Ship is to make a full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of ports.

2. The Ship is made to collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civil applications.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025), the first of four Survey Vessel (Large) (SVL) ships, was delivered to the Indian Navy in December 2023. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, the vessel is designed for extensive maritime operations.

• Statement 1 is correct: The primary role of these SVL ships is to conduct full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports, navigational channels, and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to ensure safe maritime navigation.
• Statement 2 is correct: The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment, including multi-beam echo sounders and autonomous underwater vehicles, to collect oceanographic and geophysical data. This data is essential for both defence strategic requirements and civil applications such as marine research and resource exploration.

The ship also has secondary roles, including providing limited hospital facilities during war or emergencies.