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‘Sagar Manthan’ Vessel to be Operational by Early 2028
Kolkata-based GRSE launches the indigenous ocean research vessel ‘Sagar Manthan’ for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).nThe vessel is developed as part of the Deep Ocean Mission and is expected to be operational by early 2028.
‘Sagar Manthan’ Ocean Research Vessel and Deep Ocean Mission (DOM):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Constructed for | The facility is being constructed for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). |
| Programme linkage | ‘Sagar Manthan’ is developed as part of the Deep Ocean Mission. |
| Expected operational timeline | The vessel is expected to be operational by early 2028. |
| Vessel objective | The vessel provides for enhanced capabilities in deep-sea exploration, oceanographic research, and geophysical surveys. |
| DOM nature | The Deep Ocean Mission is a Government of India initiative aimed at developing technologies and capabilities for the exploration and sustainable use of deep-ocean resources. |
| DOM nodal ministry | The Deep Ocean Mission is governed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). |
| DOM thematic areas | The Deep Ocean Mission comprises 6 thematic areas: Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, Manned Submersible, and Underwater Robotics; Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services; Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity; Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration; Energy and freshwater from the Ocean; and Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology. |
| Oceanographic research | Oceanographic research comprises ocean measurements, sampling, CTD profiling, and current and meteorological observations. |
| Deep-sea and geophysical surveys | Deep-sea and geophysical surveys comprise multibeam bathymetry, seismic surveys, and sub-bottom profiling to depths of up to 6 kilometers. |
| Autonomous and remotely operated systems | The vessel deploys AUVs for autonomous surveys and data collection, and ROVs for remote inspection and operations. |
| Marine sampling | Marine sampling comprises water, biological, seabed, and rock sampling, along with mooring and buoy operations. |
| Atmospheric and weather research | Atmospheric and weather research utilizes Doppler radar, meteorological instruments, and upper-air systems to support ocean-climate studies. |
| Geographic reach | The vessel operates from the Indian Ocean to Antarctica, in both coastal and deep waters, including severe sea conditions. |
| Marine mineral resource activities | Marine mineral resource activities focus on exploring deep-sea manganese nodules and polymetallic sulphides for strategic minerals. |