Acquisition of New Technology Demonstration Vessel

 

The Ocean Policy Statement enunciated by the Government of India emphasises that acquisition of technology should be an important component of the development programmes. To be self-reliant, such technologies would have to be largely developed, tested and operated indigenously. Technologies relating to  exploitation of resources, especially the sea bed minerals,  oceanic data collecting devices, anti- erosion capabilities, submersibles, energy and energy-saving devices are priority items. Several new technologies will have to be commercialised and made cost-effective.

            The Department of Ocean Development have resource exploitation/development  programmes and other programmes, which aid in technology development.  These programmes include:

·         Exploitation of  Polymetallic nodules.

·         Non-conventional energy resources from the Sea.

·         Underwater observation systems and instrumentation

·         Gas Hydrates

·     Sea bed surveys to support technology demonstration and establishment of Legal Continental Shelf

These programmes require extensive research vessel facilities and requirement of vessels vary depending on the stage of development of technology.   For eg., an autonomous vehicle to mine the nodules at 6000m depth has to be developed and this has to be developed in phases ie., to start with for depths upto 300m , then upgraded  to 2000m onwards  to finally reach to exploit the nodules at 6000m depth.  For the present stage of development of mining system upto 300m, it is being supported by Department’s vessel namely Sagar Kanya and by other chartered vessels.

Different  stages of  technology development  need different types of vessels and it would be impractical and uneconomical in the long run to hire  a few  vessels  to meet these requirement.   Therefore, it is proposed to acquire a vessel during the 10^th plan period  to fulfill the above requirements.

The main Objective of the program is                                                                          

• To build a new multipurpose vessel for technology services and demonstration to cater to the ongoing and the new programmes during the 10^th plan of DOD such as deep sea mining, OTEC, Remotely Operated Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, supporting underwater observation system and instrumentation,  surveys to support technology demonstration programmes  and to act as support platform for  various research activities planned by the Department.


• The Program will be implemented by the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai.