ORV Sagar Manthan

Context

1. The Union Minister for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh launched Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Manthan (Yard 3041) at Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata.
2. The vessel is being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
3. It is being developed under Vertical-4: Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration of the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) and is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in 2028.

About ORV Sagar Manthan

1. ORV Sagar Manthan is an indigenous, all-weather, multidisciplinary research vessel designed for scientific operations in deep and challenging oceanic environments.
2. It is intended to operate in regions including the Southern Ocean and has a projected service life of 30 years.
3. The project was contracted to GRSE in July 2024 at an approximate cost of ₹840 crore.

Key Features

1. The vessel is 89.5 metres long, has a gross tonnage of about 5,900 tonnes, can attain around 14 knots, and is designed to operate at depths of up to 6,000 metres.
2. Its dynamic positioning system helps maintain a precise position during seabed surveys and sampling.
3. Multibeam bathymetry, multichannel seismic systems and sub-bottom profiling enable detailed mapping and geological study of the seafloor.
4. The vessel can deploy Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for underwater investigations.
5. It also supports CTD profiling, water sampling, weather observations and environmental surveys and has dual-class certification from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

Role in Deep Ocean Mission

1. The Deep Ocean Mission, launched in 2021, seeks to develop technologies for the exploration and sustainable use of deep-sea living and non-living resources.
2. Vertical-4 specifically deals with deep-ocean survey and exploration.
3. Sagar Manthan will support surveys along the mid-oceanic ridges of the Indian Ocean to study seabed geology and identify multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide mineralisation.
4. It will also contribute to environmental baseline studies and the collection of upper-air and water-column observations.

Conclusion

ORV Sagar Manthan is an important addition to India’s oceanographic infrastructure. Its development will strengthen national capabilities in deep-sea surveying, marine resource assessment and environmental observation, while advancing the objectives of the Deep Ocean Mission.

FAQs

1. What does ORV stand for?

ORV stands for Ocean Research Vessel. These vessels are designed for marine surveys, scientific sampling and oceanographic investigations.

2. What is the role of NCPOR in the project?

The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the user organisation for the vessel.

3. What is Vertical-4 of the Deep Ocean Mission?

Vertical-4 focuses on deep-ocean survey and exploration, including geological investigations and assessment of deep-sea mineral resources.

4. What is multibeam bathymetry?

It is a sonar-based technique used to measure water depth and produce detailed maps of the seafloor.

5. What does CTD stand for?

CTD means Conductivity, Temperature and Depth. CTD instruments help scientists study the physical properties of seawater at different depths.

6. What are ROVs and AUVs?

An ROV is an underwater vehicle operated remotely from a surface vessel, while an AUV performs underwater missions with a high degree of onboard autonomy.

7. What are hydrothermal sulphide deposits?

These are mineral deposits formed around deep-sea hydrothermal vents. They can contain metals such as copper and zinc, making them important for scientific and resource assessment.