The article discusses the National Institute of Ocean Technology’s (NIOT) plans to explore the Indian Ocean with a MATSYA-6000 submersible as part of the Samudrayaan Mission.
What exactly is the Samudrayaan Mission?
- Samudrayaan is a massive ocean/sea mission set to launch in October 2021.
- It is aimed to develop “a self-propelled manned submersible to carry three human beings to a water depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools for deep ocean exploration.
- It aims to conduct deep ocean exploration for non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides, and cobalt crusts at depths ranging from 1000 to 5500 metres.
MATSYA 6000 Information
- MATSYA 6000 is an indigenously developed manned submersible vehicle.
- It will make deep ocean exploration easier for the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- According to the ANI news agency, it has a 12-hour operational period and a 96-hour emergency endurance.
- The manned submersible will allow scientists to directly observe and understand previously unexplored deep-sea areas.
Why is it important to India?
- India has a unique maritime position, with a 7517-kilometer-long coastline that includes nine coastal states and 1,382 islands.
- The mission’s goal is to support the Central Government’s vision of a “New India,” which includes the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.
- With three sides surrounded by oceans and around 30% of the population living in coastal areas, India’s coastal regions play a significant economic role.
- It promotes fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, sustainable livelihoods, and blue trade.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1885366