Commodore YV Ramakrishna Takes Over as 29th Officer-in-Charge of INHS Goa

Commodore YV Ramakrishna took over as the 29th Officer-in-Charge of the Indian Naval Institute of Hydrography (INI Goa) on 31 August 2026, succeeding Commodore Sajeev K Nair, who retired after completing 34 years of commissioned service in the Indian Navy.

The appointment brings to the Goa-based hydrography institute an officer with long experience in survey work, maritime operations and naval instruction. Commissioned into the Executive Branch Hydro Cadre on 01 July 1997, Commodore Ramakrishna is a specialised Charge Surveyor and has built his career around hydrographic duties, technical assignments and command responsibilities.

Hydrography plays a central role in naval operations, supporting charting, navigation safety and wider maritime planning. In that context, the new appointment at INI Goa places a senior hydrographic officer at the helm of an institution closely linked to the Indian Navy’s survey and training ecosystem.

Commodore Ramakrishna’s professional education includes courses at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, and the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad. He has also attended the International Hydrographic Management and Engineering Programme (IHMEP) at the Naval Oceanographic Office in Mississippi, USA, and has completed an Ice Navigation course in Argentina.

Over the course of his naval career, he has commanded several hydrographic survey vessels, among them INS Jamuna and INS Nirupak. These appointments are significant in a specialised field where survey ships gather data that feeds into nautical charts, maritime route planning and other navigation-related requirements of the Navy and the wider maritime domain.

His staff tenures have included postings at the Indian Naval Hydrographic Office (INHO), Dehradun, and at the College of Defence Management in Secunderabad. Together, these assignments have given him experience across operational hydrography, technical administration and institutional management.

The Indian Navy said the change of charge reflects continuity at the institute, with Commodore Ramakrishna expected to carry forward the professional standards and institutional legacy associated with the post. The service also acknowledged the contribution of Commodore Sajeev K Nair, who handed over charge on superannuation after a long and distinguished career.

With his background in command, survey operations and staff appointments, Commodore Ramakrishna assumes leadership of INI Goa as the Navy continues to strengthen its hydrographic, navigational and maritime support capabilities.