Sagar Manthan

Why in News?

Recently, Kolkata‑based GRSE has launched the indigenous ocean research vessel ‘Sagar Manthan’, marking a boost to India’s maritime research capabilities.

• The facility is being constructed for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
• Developed as part of the Deep Ocean Mission.
• Expected to be operational by early 2028.
• Objective – To enhance India's capabilities in deep-sea exploration, oceanographic research, and geophysical surveys.

• Key features
• Oceanographic research – It includes ocean measurements, sampling, CTD profiling, and current and meteorological observations.
• Deep-sea and geophysical surveys – It involve multibeam bathymetry, seismic surveys, and sub-bottom profiling to depths of up to 6 kilometers.
• Autonomous and remotely operated systems – It deploy AUVs for autonomous surveys and data collection, as well as ROVs for remote inspection and operations.
• Marine sampling – It covers water, biological, seabed, and rock sampling, along with mooring and buoy operations.
• Atmospheric and weather research – It utilizes Doppler radar, meteorological instruments, and upper-air systems to support ocean-climate studies.
• Geographic reach – It extends from the Indian Ocean to Antarctica, operating in both coastal and deep waters, including severe sea conditions.
• Marine mineral resource activities – It focus on exploring deep-sea manganese nodules and polymetallic sulphides for strategic minerals.

Reference

The Hindu | Sagar Manthan