INS Sagardhwani Flagged Off from Kochi for Sagar Maitri Mission SM-5

INS Sagardhwani is flagged off from Kochi for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri mission (SM-5). The vessel is operated by the Indian Navy and is deployed for scientific ocean research and international collaboration under the Sagar Maitri programme.

INS Sagardhwani (A74) and Sagar Maitri Mission (SM-5):

Dimension	Key Details
Vessel identity	Indian oceanographic research vessel engaged in scientific ocean research and international collaboration missions.
Builder	Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
Operated by	Indian Navy.
Commissioned in	1994.
Owned by	Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi.
NPOL institutional status	NPOL functions under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Type	Marine Acoustic Research Ship (MARS).
Laboratory features	Comprises 8 acoustically isolated labs for various research parameters.
Aviation facility	Provides for a helicopter landing pad for a HAL Chetak.
Equipment and design features	Cranes and a gantry for deploying research gear, and specialised machinery for low noise/vibration.
Key mission role under programme	Conducts oceanographic missions under the Sagar Maitri programme.
Sagar Maitri initiative	Governed as an initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO to strengthen scientific cooperation and capacity building among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries.
Route reference	INS Sagardhwani provides for retracing the historic routes of INS Kistna.
INS Kistna reference	INS Kistna was a part of the International Indian Ocean Expedition (1962–65).
DRDO role	INS Sagardhwani serves as the centrepiece of DRDO’s efforts for Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy.