‘Shifting Tides and Rougher Seas’: Admiral Tripathi on Maritime transformation as INS Ikshak joins fleet

Stating that the maritime domain today is in a period of profound transformation, driven by geopolitics, technology, and tactics, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, said that the seas are witnessing sharper competition for influence, resources, and connectivity.

The CNS was speaking at the commissioning ceremony of INS Ikshak, the Indian Navy’s third indigenously designed and built Survey Vessel (Large), held at Naval Base, Kochi. Notably, Ikshak is the first SVL designed with dedicated women’s accommodation.

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“The rise of new technologies, contestations over critical minerals, and evolving patterns of maritime trade are redrawing the strategic map across the oceans. Today, the maritime space around us is increasingly defined by shifting tides and rougher seas that demand steadiness, resolve, and strength,” the CNS said.

Calling the Indian Navy an embodiment of strength and stability, Tripathi said that today, the force is growing operational capabilities, expanding reach, and extensive cooperative initiatives with like-minded nations, which underscore India’s role as a First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in shaping a free, open, and inclusive global commons across the region.

“It is within this framework that the Indian Navy’s survey ships fulfill a mission that is fundamental to the maritime world, both naval and commercial—they make the seas knowable, navigable, and safe. In essence, they reduce our known-unknowns, mile after mile, with every survey they undertake. Today, with intensified focus on seabed mapping for critical minerals and climate-driven change affecting activities, both on land and at sea, precise hydrographic data transcends utility; it becomes a strategic necessity,” he added further.

Speaking about Ikshak, the CNS said that the survey ships are enablers of safety, connectivity, and maritime cooperation across the region and beyond that, chart the unknown so that others may navigate with confidence and clarity.

He also spoke about the role of Sandhayak and Nirdeshak, the two survey vessels commissioned into the IN before Ikshak. He said that vessels equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic systems, advanced ocean-mapping tools, and a vast array of specialised equipment make them a survey platform of choice—not only for the IN but also for the country’s maritime partners across the region and beyond.

“In the last one year alone, our survey ships have rendered hydrographic assistance from Mauritius to Vietnam—demonstrating India’s commitment to shared maritime growth and prosperity across the region. INS Sandhayak, the lead ship of this class, commissioned in February 2024, has recently completed an important deployment to Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, showcasing the Indian Navy’s hydrographic and shipbuilding capabilities.

“Indian Navy has fully transitioned from a Buyer’s Navy to a Builder’s Navy. With every ship being commissioned, we are taking the vision of Atmanirbharta deeper to the component and sub-component level. As a result, the ships being commissioned—be it the most advanced P17A frigates, Shallow Water ASW craft, or Survey Vessel Ikshak—carry nearly 80 per cent indigenous content, a testament of the Indian Navy’s commitment to Atmanirbharta in action,” the CNS added.

Earlier, the Chief of the Naval Staff was presented with a 50-men Guard of Honour. The commissioning ceremony commenced with the reading of the ship’s commissioning warrant by Captain Tribhuvan Singh, the Commanding Officer. Thereafter, the Naval ensign was hoisted, accompanied by the national anthem and a ceremonial salute by the ‘Colour Guard’ presented by the crew. Simultaneously, the ship’s commissioning pennant was also hoisted, signifying its induction into active naval service. The pennant will remain aflutter till the time the ship remains in commission. The Commissioning Plaque was unveiled by the CNS.

Later, the CNS visited various sections of the ship, where he was briefed on the construction journey and the integration of indigenous systems. He also interacted with the commissioning crew and officials from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).