Port Blair, Sept 25: INS Investigator, a Hydrographic Survey Ship of the Indian Navy has been engaged in the survey of the seas around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands since its arrival at Port Blair on 30 Apr 13. The ship has been based here under the Administrative and Operational Command of the Commander-in –Chief Andaman & Nicobar Command.
INS Investigator is an indigenously designed vessel constructed at Garden Reach Ship Builders, Kolkatta. Late Shri Jyoti Basu, then the Chief Minister of West Bengal commissioned the ship on 11 Jan 1990. Her primary role is to carry out hydrographic survey tasks and is actively involved is preparation of marine charts and electronic maps for Electronic Chart Display & Information ECDIS system. The ship is fitted with the state of the art electronic, hydrographic survey and navigation equipment.
“Due to the earthquake and tsunami of 26 Dec 2004, there have been a large number of geo-morphological changes in the islands, which affect the movement of ships and water craft. The permanent basing of the ship will expedite the process of revalidation of navigational charts of A&N Islands, and will immensely benefit the maritime community of the Islands. Besides charting Indian waters, the ship would provide yeoman service to other littoral navies, by undertaking marine chart and hydrographic survey of friendly nations,” Col Harmit Singh, Command PRO of ANC said in a press release here.
The ship’s secondary role includes Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Management operations, wherein the ship can be converted in to a hospital ship, with an Operation Theatre and associated equipment to attend to medical emergencies at sea, the ship remains ever ready as ANC provides vital medical support wherever so required.
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