In a significant step toward advancing India’s scientific capabilities and bolstering the blue economy, the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology announced that the country is set to launch its first human underwater submersible (Deep-Sea Manned Vehicle) this year.

About Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)

• DOM is India’s ambitious program for underwater exploration, primarily implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• It is a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
• Approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021, it has a budget of nearly ₹4,077 crore over a five-year phased implementation.
• Mission pillars: 
  • Technology Development: Includes developing technologies for deep-sea mining and a manned submersible capable of reaching a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean, with a focus on mining polymetallic nodules.
  • Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services: Involves ocean observations and models for understanding and projecting future climate changes.
  • Biodiversity Conservation: Aims at developing technological innovations for the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity.
  • Deep-Ocean Survey and Exploration: Focuses on identifying potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
  • Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean: Aims to harness energy and freshwater resources from the ocean.
  • Marine Station for Ocean Biology: Establishing an advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology to promote talent and opportunities in ocean biology and blue biotechnology.

Major Advancements in India’s Ocean Exploration

• Samudrayaan Mission: India’s first mission to explore the deep ocean using the Matsya 6000 submersible.
  • Aims to reach a depth of 6,000 meters in the Central Indian Ocean.
• Varaha Deep-Ocean Mining System: Developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
  • Successfully completed locomotion trials at a depth of 5,270 meters in the Central Indian Ocean.
  • A significant advancement in India’s capacity for deep-ocean mining.

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Matsya 6000 Submersible

• Matsya6000 is India’s flagship deep-ocean submersible designed to reach a depth of 6,000 meters.
• Crew: Accommodates a crew of three members and is equipped with scientific sensors and tools for observations, sample collection, and experimentation.
• Developed by: Chennai’s National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
  • Constructed from a titanium alloy, the sphere is engineered to withstand pressures of up to 6,000 bar.
• Features: It is designed to withstand high pressures and has propellers for movement in all directions, viewports for crew observation, and communication through acoustic systems.
  • Matsya6000 combines features of remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous remote vehicles (AUVs).
• India aims to join other countries that have successfully conducted deep-ocean crewed missions, such as the USA, Russia, China, France, and Japan.

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