The Indian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship, the INS Sandhayak (J18), arrived in the Philippines.

Aside from the INS Sandhayak, also currently docked at the Port of Manila are the INS Delhi (D61), a guided-missile destroyer; the INS Shakti (A57), a fleet tanker; and the INS Kiltan (P30), an anti-submarine warfare corvette.

The vessel port visit showcase India’s commitment to strengthening defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Commissioned in February 2024, the INS Sandhayak is the first of the indigenously designed and built Sandhayak-class hydrographic survey ships of the Indian Navy.

“We are trying to share this message that even though we are far, the waters of India and Philippines—it is a very huge area of seas. As you can see, the extent of the Philippines is stretching from north to south and as much as you require survey for yourself, we also require survey for our ocean,” Captain Nattuva xvbDheeraj, commanding officer of the INS Sandhayak, told reporters in an interview.

“So, we are just trying to collaborate in which way we can help each other so that in the times to come, we can share more information, more training, and do so for the economic growth of our respective countries,” he added.

The primary role of the INS Sandhayak is mapping ocean floors and gathering marine data for civilian navigation and economic development.

It also serves as a hospital ship during wartime and emergency operations.

“We map the oceans, which is used for mariners across the globe, so there’s nothing defense in it. It is more of a hydrography-related job,” Nattuva explained.

“This ship also is a hospital ship. So, in the conditions of war, we will get converted to a hospital ship and also, we have a limited coastal defense. We have small ammunition and weapon software. But we are more often a peace-time ship,” he further said.

The INS Sandhayak’s voyage to the Philippines marks its farthest deployment yet.

“This is the farthest distance the ship has traveled so far,” Nattuva noted. “This is the first time this ship has come to this part of the world because the ship is a new one and it’s just got a longer endurance and excellent state of the art survey.”

The INS Delhi, INS Shakti and INS Kiltan are slated to take part in a maritime cooperative activity with Philippine Navy warships in the West Philippine Sea next week.