Mission Samudrayan

Table of Contents

Mission Samudrayan: Relevance

GS 3: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology

Recently, Ministry of Earth Science has launched India’s first and unique manned ocean Mission Samudrayan at Chennai.

With the launch of this mission., India joins the elite club of nations such as USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities.
The niche technology shall facilitate MoES in carrying out deep ocean exploration of the non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 meters.

Sea trials of 500 metre rated shallow water version of the manned submersible are expected to take place in the last quarter of 2022 and the MATSYA 6000, the deep water manned submersible will be ready for trials by the second quarter of 2024.
The preliminary design of the manned submersible MATSYA 6000 is completed and realization of vehicle is started with various organization including ISRO, IITM and DRDO roped-in to support the development.
The advancing technologies in metallurgy, energy storage, underwater navigation and manufacturing facilities provides opportunity for developing more efficient, reliable and safe manned submersible.

The underwater vehicles are essential for carrying out subsea activities such as high-resolution bathymetry, biodiversity assessment, geo-scientific observation, search activities, salvage operation and engineering support.
Even though unmanned underwater vehicles have improved manoeuvring and excellent vision systems resembling direct observation, manned submersible provides a feel of direct physical presence for researchers and has better intervention capability.

With the advancing subsea technologies, the recent Fendouzhe manned submersible developed by China in 2020 has touched ~11000m water depths.

MoES-NIOT is indigenously developing a manned submersible with a depth capability of 6000 meters under the aegis of Deep Ocean Mission.
Deep Ocean Mission is a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.

Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible
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
Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology