India Launches Advanced Ocean Research Vessel
ORV Sagar Manthan launched in Kolkata to strengthen indigenous oceanographic research and maritime capabilities
- Dr Jitendra Singh launched the ₹840-crore vessel through virtual presence.
- GRSE designed and built the vessel for NCPOR under the Deep Ocean Mission.
- The vessel will support multidisciplinary research in extreme oceanic environments.
- ORV Sagar Manthan is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in 2028.
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 10th Sept: Union Minister for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh launched India’s advanced Ocean Research Vessel ORV Sagar Manthan (Yard 3041) at Rishi Bankim Shipyard in Kolkata on Wednesday, marking a major step towards indigenous maritime research and oceanographic technology.
Designed, engineered and constructed by defence public sector undertaking Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, the vessel was launched through the Minister’s virtual presence. Mrs Manju Singh, wife of Dr Jitendra Singh, formally named the vessel in keeping with the launch tradition.
Dr Jitendra Singh described the launch as a “red letter day” for NCPOR, the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the nation. He highlighted the vessel as an important achievement in Atmanirbharta, noting that it was launched within two years of contract signing and around five months after keel laying.
The Minister said ocean research is crucial for understanding melting polar glaciers, maritime impacts and climate dynamics. He emphasised that data collected by advanced research vessels can support disaster prevention, environmental measures and India’s role in global ocean geopolitics.
ORV Sagar Manthan is being constructed under Vertical-4, Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration, of the Government’s Deep Ocean Mission at an approximate cost of ₹840 crore. Designed as an all-weather, multidisciplinary platform, the vessel is capable of operating in extreme oceanic environments, including the Southern Ocean, with a projected service life of 30 years.
The vessel is equipped with dynamic positioning, multibeam bathymetry, multichannel seismic systems, sub-bottom profiling, weather radar, drop keels and deployment facilities for Remotely Operated Vehicles and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.
It will undertake multidisciplinary research including surveys along Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges for multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide mineralisation, environmental baseline studies, upper-air observations, water-column sampling and CTD profiling.
Dr T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the vessel reflected India’s transition from acquiring research platforms abroad to developing them domestically. He highlighted its capabilities in swath multibeam surveys, geophysical profiling, atmospheric observations and water-column sampling.
Built under international regulatory standards, ORV Sagar Manthan carries dual-class certification from the Indian Register of Shipping and the American Bureau of Shipping.
The vessel will gradually replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya, which was procured from Germany in 1983. Following the launch, superstructure erection, system integration and extensive sea trials will be undertaken before its final delivery and commissioning to NCPOR and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, scheduled for 2028.
