India has launched ‘Sagar Manthan’, an indigenously built ocean‑research vessel, at the GRSE shipyard. The ship, costing about ₹840 crore, is being built for the NCPOR, and is slated to join service by early 2028.
Key Developments
- Launch took place on 9 September 2026, just five months after the keel was laid, showing rapid construction capability.
- The vessel is part of the Deep Ocean Mission, a flagship initiative to expand India’s marine research fleet.
- It will operate in the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, equatorial waters and the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
- Advanced scientific equipment includes sub‑bottom profilers, seismic gear, a Doppler weather radar and facilities for AUVs and ROVs.
Important Facts
- Length: 89.5 m; Beam: 18.8 m; Gross tonnage: 5,900 t.
- Maximum speed: 14 knots at 90 % continuous rating.
- Capability to conduct multibeam swath surveys and geophysical seismic work up to 6 km depth.
- Equipped for CTD profiling, water and biological sampling, seabed coring, rock dredging and mooring operations.
- On‑board labs will allow real‑time data analysis, processing and training of scientists and technicians.
- Will support exploration of marine mineral resources such as manganese nodules and polymetallic sulphides.
Exam Relevance
The launch illustrates India’s strategic push in the blue economy and maritime security. Understanding the vessel’s capabilities helps answer GS II (Geography) questions on oceanic research infrastructure, GS III (Science & Technology) queries on marine technology, and GS IV (Environment) topics on sustainable exploitation of seabed minerals. It also ties into policy‑making under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, relevant for GS II (Polity) and GS III (Economy) when discussing government programmes and budget allocations.
Way Forward
- Complete sea‑trials and hand‑over to NCPOR by early 2028.
- Integrate the vessel into national and international research collaborations, especially for climate monitoring and Antarctic studies.
- Leverage data from AUVs and ROVs to map mineral deposits and assess environmental impacts.
- Use the vessel’s training facilities to build a skilled cadre of marine scientists, supporting India’s long‑term self‑reliance in ocean research.