INS Sutlej, a hydrographic survey vessel of the Indian Navy, successfully completed the 18th Joint Hydrographic Survey Mission with the Mauritius Hydrographic Service, covering an area of nearly 35,000 sq. nautical miles. This collaborative mission aimed at enhancing marine charting, coastal regulation, and resource management, thereby contributing to Mauritius’ Blue Economy initiatives.
Key Highlights of 18th Joint Hydrographic Survey Mission
- Conducted under the India–Mauritius MoU on Hydrographic Cooperation.
- Six Mauritian officials from different ministries joined INS Sutlej for hands-on training in modern hydrographic survey techniques.
- Survey strengthened marine charting, coastal management, and environmental planning.
- INS Sutlej also conducted joint EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) surveillance and anti-piracy patrols with the Mauritius National Coast Guard.
- The mission aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across the Regions) vision.
Importance of Hydrographic Surveys
Hydrographic surveys are crucial for:
- Safe Navigation: Producing accurate navigational and electronic charts for ships.
- Resource & Coastal Management: Mapping seabed for minerals, fisheries, and environmental monitoring.
- Maritime Security: Enabling better EEZ management, deterring piracy and illegal fishing.
- Blue Economy Development: Supporting sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.
Why Mauritius?
- Strategic Location: Mauritius lies in a key position in the southwestern Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Acts as a critical maritime partner for India’s Indo-Pacific and SAGAR vision.
- Hydrographic collaboration enhances regional security, maritime infrastructure, and scientific capacity-building.
About INS Sutlej: The Survey Ship
- Commissioned: 19 February 1993
- Builder: Goa Shipyard Limited, India
- Base: Kochi, under the Southern Naval Command
- Class: Sandhayak-class hydrographic survey ship
Key Features & Systems
- Equipped with:
- Multi-beam swath echo sounder
- Side-scan sonar
- Differential GPS
- Sea gravimeter & magnetometer
- Motion sensors & oceanographic systems
- Automated data logging systems
- Chetak helicopter onboard for aerial reconnaissance.
- Meets ISO 9002 international standards for digital hydrographic accuracy.
- Has conducted surveys in Tanzania, Seychelles, Maldives, Myanmar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gujarat, and Goa.
Strategic Outcomes and Future Implications
For Mauritius
- Strengthened Blue Economy goals through accurate marine mapping.
- Enhanced maritime safety, port operations, and resource management.
- Builds local expertise in hydrographic science.
For India
- Expands maritime diplomacy and regional influence in IOR.
- Promotes capacity-building among island nations.
- Reinforces SAGAR and MAHASAGAR doctrines for regional cooperation.
- Demonstrates India’s hydrographic and technological self-reliance.
Key Facts
| Topic | Key Facts |
| INS Sutlej | Sandhayak-class hydrographic survey ship; commissioned in 1993; based at Kochi (Southern Naval Command). |
| Hydrographic Surveys in India | Conducted by the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD), headquartered in Dehradun, under the Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India. |
| SAGAR Vision | Stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region, launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2015 to enhance India’s maritime cooperation in IOR. |
| MAHASAGAR Framework | India’s extended initiative to promote Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, focusing on capacity-building and ocean governance. |
| Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) | Mauritius is a member; India joined as an observer in 2020. |
| Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) | Defined under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea); extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. |
| Goa Shipyard Limited | Indian PSU shipbuilder under the Ministry of Defence, known for producing hydrographic and coastal patrol vessels. |