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 eight 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 the Centre for imparting training in Hydrography accredited by International Hydrographic Organisation for National and Internationa trainees.

Surveys are conducted in strict compliance with the ‘IHO standards for Hydrographic surveying (S-44)’. The department also pioneered in making official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) for Indian waters.  INHD is committed to capacity building in the Indian Ocean 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.