Under the aegis of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Hydrography that was signed between the Governments of India and Mauritius in October 2005, the Sixth Indo-Mauritian Joint Hydrographic Committee Meeting was held in January 2011 at Dehradun, India. As an outcome of this Meeting, the Government of the Republic of India has deployed Indian Naval Ship INS Sarvekshak in Mauritian waters from February 17 – March 26, 2011 to undertake the following hydrographic surveys and tasks requested for by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius.

• (a) Survey off Rodrigues for delineation of Continental shelf.
• (b) Survey of Port Louis Harbour
• (c) Survey of passes off Mauritian Coast
• (d) Checking serviceability of survey equipment held with Government of Mauritius
• (e) Undertake training of Mauritian survey officers and NCG personnel.

2. INS Sarvekshak will carry out the assigned surveys and tasks in three phases. The ship has already undertaken the 1st phase of survey off Rodrigues from February 17–22, 2011. The ongoing second phase is from February 26–March 6, 2011. The third phase of survey will be from March 10–19, 2011. The ship will also survey areas off Port Louis Harbour and impart extensive training to Mauritian Survey officers and National Coast Guard personnel. The ship will also embark Mauritian survey officers during her surveys in all the three phases to train them on exploitation of modern electronic survey equipment.

3. This is INS Sarvekshak’s third visit to Mauritius to undertake hydrographic surveys - Her earlier visits were in February 2006 and March 2007. The Ship was commissioned in March 2002. The name Sarvekshak signifies “the one who surveys the hidden dangers”. INS Sarvekshak has a complement of 15 officers and 170 sailors. She carries an array of the most modern Hydrographic, Oceanographic, Geophysical equipment and systems. These include a state-of-the-art Digital Survey and Processing System, Multibeam Swath Echo-Sounding System, the latest GPS surveying systems, gravimeters, magnetometers, sound velocity profiling system, etc, which together provides the ship with the capability of mapping the seabed features accurately and meeting the stringent international standards laid down by the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO). INS Sarvekshak is commanded by Capt. Adhir Arora, a specialist in Hydrography and also a Charge Hydrographic Surveyor. He has held important appointments in active survey duty onboard ships and at various levels, including that of Senior Instructor at the National Hydrographic School, Goa, India.

4. During its presence in Mauritian waters, INS Sarvekshak will call in Port Louis from February 23-26, 2011; March 7-10, 2011; and March 19-23, 2011. While in Port Louis, the officers and sailors of INS Sarvekshak will play friendly Volleyball and Basketball matches with officers and men of the National Coast Guard. The crew of the Ship will carry out various philanthropic and community welfare activities. These include charity work at a home for destitutes, blood donation etc. The ship will be open to the public on March 19, 2011 from 1000 to 1200 hrs and 1400 to1730 hrs.

5. The visit of INS Sarvekshak is a further demonstration of enhanced bilateral cooperation between India and Mauritius on maritime issues. The survey work performed by INS Sarvekshak shall be of immense help to Mauritius in the field of fishing, ecosystem preservation and management, establishment of artificial reefs, delimitation of the Continental Shelf of Mauritius and safe navigation of ships and crafts. The entire expense of the survey work for duration of 30 days and the printing of navigation nautical charts would amount to over US$ 2 million which is being borne by the Indian Government, as has been done for the previous five deployments.