India Launches First Manned Ocean Mission. Know Capabilities Of Matsya 6000 & More

Matsya 6000 will be capable of carrying three human beings with an endurance of 12 hours and an additional 96 hours in case of an emergency situation.

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New Delhi: India has launched its first manned ocean mission ‘Samudrayan’ to join the elite club of six nations exploring underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities. Union minister Jitendra Singh said the nation has made huge progress in science and technology and when an Indian goes up into space as part of the Gaganyaan programme, another would dive deep into the ocean, the minister said.

The Minister tweeted,” Launched India’s First Manned Ocean Mission #Samudrayan at #Chennai. India joins an elite club of select nations USA, Russia, Japan, France & China having such underwater vehicles. A new chapter opens to explore ocean resources for drinking water, clean energy & blue economy.”

What’s the mission ‘Samudrayan’?

Under Samudrayan, the deep-sea vehicle known as Matsya 6000, is being developed. The vehicle will be capable of carrying three human beings in a titanium alloy personnel sphere of 2.1-metre diameter enclosed space with an endurance of 12 hours and an additional 96 hours in case of an emergency situation.

The niche technology facilitates carrying out deep ocean exploration of non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) said.

Matsya 6000, will be ready for qualification trials by December 2024, according to a NIOT official.

By the end of 2022 or 2023, the shallow water (500 metres) phase is expected to happen which would be followed by deeper initiatives.

The NIOT had developed a ‘personnel sphere’ made of mild steel with local industry for an operational capability of 500 metres and tested for its usage as per the International Classification and Certification Agency for man-rated operation during this month sea trial using Ocean Research Vessel Sagar Nidhi in the Bay of Bengal.

The deep-sea vehicle shall be maneuvered at the deep seafloor with six-degree freedom using battery-powered propulsion system for 4 hours at 6000-metre depth, according to the release.

What’s the purpose of the deep sea vehicle?

This vehicle is a platform to carry any devices, sensors, etc to the deep-sea for doing experiments/observations in the presence of a human being. It will help in augmenting India’s capability with infrastructure facilities such as a high thickness welding facility and deep ocean simulator.

The manned submersible is aimed at exploring oceans and to survey the ocean bed and collecting data and samples.

During the course of the programme, new skill sets are being added under the capacity building which would pave the way for industrial development within the country under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in the 75th Year of India’ Independence.

System design, concept of operation, subcomponents functionality and integrity, emergency rescue, failure mode analysis are reviewed and certified as per the rules of the International Association of Classification and Certification Society for man-rated usage of manned submersible at a depth of 6000 metres.

(With inputs from PTI)