The Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD)
functions under the Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India. The
Department, being the nodal agency for Hydrographic surveys and Nautical
charting in India, has a very well established organizational setup. INHD has
nine indigenously built modern survey ships including one Catamaran Hull Survey Vessel (CHSV) fitted with state-of-the-art
surveying equipment and a well established 'National Institute of Hydrography'
which is recognized as the Centre for Imparting training in Hydrography' for South East Asia by IHO.
Another five CHSVs are scheduled to join the surveying fleet in the near future. Surveys are conducted in strict compliance with the 'IHO standards for Hydrographic surveying (SP-44)'.
The department also pioneered
in making official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) for Indian waters.
INHD is committed to capacity building in the South East Asian Region and conducts
training to personnel from countries in the region and some of the African nations.
The department has also signed MoU with various countries for surveying their waters
as part of international cooperation.