Igorzen at 13:57, 6 May 2026

2026-05-06T13:57:36Z

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{{Short description|Catamarans of the Indian Navy}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}{{italic title|string=Makar}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
| image = INS Makar (J31) at sea.jpg
| image_caption = INS ''Makar''
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview
| name = ''Makar'' class
| builders = Alcock Ashdown Gujarat Ltd<ref name=in15d/>
| operators = {{navy|India}}
| class_before = [[Sandhayak-class survey ship (1981)]]
| class_after = [[Sandhayak-class survey vessel (2023)]]
| subclasses =
| cost = {{INRConvert|800|c|0}}<ref name=dnai3m>{{cite news|title=Gujarat builds 1st survey catamarans for Indian navy|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-gujarat-builds-1st-survey-catamarans-for-indian-navy-1354613|access-date=15 December 2013|newspaper=DNA India|date=3 March 2010}}</ref>
| built_range =
| in_service_range =
| in_commission_range =
| total_ships_building =
| total_ships_planned = 6
| total_ships_completed = 1
| total_ships_canceled = 5
| total_ships_active = 1
| total_ships_laid_up =
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
| hide_header =
| header_caption =
| class =
| type = [[Catamaran]]
| tonnage =
| displacement = 500 tons<ref name="alcockshipyard">{{cite web|title=Vessels Under Execution - Survey Vessel, Indian Navy|url=http://www.alcockshipyard.com/projects1.htm|publisher=Alcock Shipyard|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215192638/http://www.alcockshipyard.com/projects1.htm|archive-date=15 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| length = {{cvt|53.15|m|ftin}}<ref name="alcockshipyard" />
| beam = {{cvt|16.0|m|ftin}}<ref name="alcockshipyard" />
| height =
| draught = {{cvt|2.2|m|ftin}}
| depth = {{cvt|4.5|m|ftin}}<ref name="alcockshipyard" />
| hold_depth =
| decks =
| deck_clearance =
| ramps =
| power = 4 × {{cvt|1007|kW}} [[Cummins]] KTA 38M2
| propulsion = Two bow thrusters<ref name=in15d>{{cite web|title=Indigenously Built INS Makar Commissioned into Indian Navy|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/node/1571|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=15 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816210137/http://indiannavy.nic.in/node/1571|archive-date=16 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| sail_plan =
| speed = Maximum speed: {{convert|18|kn}}<ref name=gm4m>{{cite news|title=Alcock Ashdown Gujarat Ltd develops first Survey Catamarans for Indian navy|url=http://gujaratmoney.com/2010/03/04/alcock-ashdown-gujarat-ltd-develops-first-survey-catamarans-for-indian-navy/|access-date=15 December 2013|newspaper=Gujarat Money|date=4 March 2010}}</ref>
| range = {{cvt|3000|nmi|lk=in}} at economic cruising
| endurance =
| test_depth =
| boats = Carries two motor boats, also carries autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)<ref name=in15d/>
| capacity =
| troops =
| complement = 6 officers and 44 sailors,<ref name="indiannavy">{{cite web|title=Indigenously Built INS Makar Commissioned into Indian Navy|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/node/1571|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816210137/http://indiannavy.nic.in/node/1571|archive-date=16 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and 6 scientists<ref name=gm4m/>
| crew =
| time_to_activate =
| sensors = Advanced Electronic Positioning System, Multi-beam Swath Sounding Systems and Sub-Bottom Profiler. Equipped with modern oceanographic and land survey equipment.<ref name=in15d/>
| EW =
| armament =
| armour =
| aircraft =
| aircraft_facilities =
| notes =
}}
}}

The '''''Makar''-class survey catamarans''' were a series of six 500-ton steel hull/aluminium [[superstructure]] hydrographic survey [[catamaran]]s being built by Alcock Ashdown ([[Gujarat]]) Ltd at its [[Bhavnagar]] shipyard for the [[Indian Navy]]. The ships are designed by an Australian naval architecture firm Sea Transport Solutions, which is based in [[Queensland]]'s [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]. The deal was canceled due to the extensive delays as the Navy was not satisfied with the timeline<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/17987/Indian_Navy_Likely_To_Cancel__1_1_billion_Makar_Class_Vessels_Deal_Over_Delay_Issues#.XYcC9CgzZPY|title=Indian Navy Likely To Cancel $1.1 billion Makar-Class Vessels Deal Over Delay Issues|website=www.defenseworld.net|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref> and a fresh award for construction of another class of survey vessels to the GRSE has also been undertaken.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/grse-to-build-four-survey-vehicles-for-indian-navy-contract-inked/articleshow/66431579.cms?from=mdr|title=GRSE to build four survey vehicles for Indian Navy, contract inked|date=2018-10-30|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref> Only one ship was constructed.

==Description==
The ships are intended to undertake coastal hydrographic survey, required for production of nautical charts and publications aimed at improving navigation through waters closer to coasts. The ships are also capable of limited coastal defence role in an emergency, limited search and rescue and limited ocean research. The ships are equipped with standard hydrographic survey equipment such as advanced electronic positioning system, multi-beam swath sounding systems and sub-bottom profiler. The ships also carry two survey motor boats along with Kongsberg Maritime's Hugin 1000 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for closer investigations.<ref name=in15d/>

The catamarans are propelled by four Cummins engines as well as two bow thrusters. The entire propulsion, navigational and power management packages of the vessels are integrated in a L&T supplied single state-of-art integrated platform management system. The ship is also equipped with sophisticated Integrated Bridge System from L&T. The ships have ergonomic accommodation for the six officers and 44 sailors.<ref name=in15d/>

==Construction==
Alcock Ashdown (Gujarat) Ltd was awarded this contract, worth {{INRConvert|800|c|0}}<ref name=dnai3m/> on 28 December 2006 through open competitive bidding, beating others like [[Larsen & Toubro]], [[ABG Shipyard]] and [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]]. As per original term of contract, the first vessel was to be delivered by 6 April 2009, while the remaining five vessels were to be delivered within a year from 6 July 2009. This was later rescheduled, the revised delivery period of vessels is from September 2011 to March 2013.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}
INS ''Meen'' is under construction. The remaining four are awaiting administrative clarification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bcshippingnews.com/ships-shipyards/makar-class-survey-catamaran-indian-navy|title = BC Shipping News – Magazine| date=6 June 2021 }}</ref>

==Ships of the class==
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" style="margin:auto; border-collapse:collapse;"
|- style="background:#069; color:white;"
! Name
! Pennant
! Laid down
! Launched
! Sea trials
! Commissioning
! Homeport
! Notes
|-
|{{INS|Makar|J31|6}}
|J 31
|2008
|February 2010
|
|21 September 2012
|[[INS Kadamba|Karwar]]
|<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|title=Hydrographic survey vessel commissioned|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/hydrographic-survey-vessel-commissioned/article3925097.ece|access-date=1 September 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=22 September 2012}}</ref>
|-
|}

== Cancellation of the deal ==
Indian Navy cancelled ₹8,000 crore (US$1.1 billion) deal with Alcock Ashdown over ten-year delays in a contract to supply of the six vessels. According to Navy officials only one of the vessels has been delivered and there is no sign or any timeline for the other five ships.<ref name=":0" />

Further, the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] has awarded another contract for the construction of four survey vessels for the Indian Navy to [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]] (GRSE) Limited, Kolkata after it became the L1 bidder in the competitive bidding.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=184472|title=MOD signs contract with GRSE for supply of four survey vessels for Indian Navy|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref> These ships have a displacement of 3,300 tonnes. Therefore, these ships are likely to be more advanced and outperform the ''Makar'' class which has a displacement of only 500 tonnes.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

==See also==
*{{sclass2|L&T|fast interceptor craft|1}}
*[[Solas Marine fast interceptor boat]]
*[[ABG fast interceptor craft]]
*[[Couach fast interceptor boats]]
*[[GSL/GRSE series of Interceptor Boats]]
* {{sclass|Aadesh|patrol vessel|1}}
*{{sclass2|ABG|training ship|1}}
*{{sclass|Rani Abbakka|inshore patrol vessel|1}}
*{{sclass|Samarth|offshore patrol vessel|1}}
*{{sclass|Manoram|ferry}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://deshgujarat.com/2012/05/31/in-pictures-made-in-gujaratfirst-hydrographic-survey-vessel-makar-handed-over-to-the-indian-navy/ In pictures: Made in Gujarat, first hydrographic survey vessel ‘Makar’ supplied to Navy]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131215192638/http://www.alcockshipyard.com/projects1.htm Official website]

{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}

[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in India]]
[[Category:Auxiliary research ship classes]]
[[Category:Military catamarans]]

Makar-class catamaran - Revision history

Igorzen at 13:57, 6 May 2026