In a significant step towards enhancing Indian maritime cooperation, the Indian Navy's indigenously designed and constructed Survey Vessel (Large), INS Sandhayak, made her maiden port call at Port Klang, Malaysia, for hydrographic cooperation from July 16 to July 19, 2025.

Commissioned in February 2024, INS Sandhayak is the first ship of the new Sandhayak-class hydrographic survey vessels and represents a significant achievement in indigenous shipbuilding. This visit demonstrates India’s growing role in regional hydrographic capacity building under the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD) and National Hydrographic Office framework.

According to the statement issued by the Defence Ministry of India, the vessel has been equipped with advanced capabilities for coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys, oceanographic data collection, and search and rescue (SAR) and humanitarian assistance operations. It also features an onboard helicopter deck and hospital facilities, enabling multipurpose deployments. With humanitarian operations with onboard helicopter and hospital functions already equipped in this vessel, this vessel is without a doubt one of the most prestigious assets for the Indian Navy.