India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)

India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is an initiative to explore and harness the resources of the deep ocean. The mission was launched in 2021 with a budget of ₹4077 crore over 5 years.

This topic covers the Civil Services exam syllabus of GS3 – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Overview 

• The mission will focus on India’s exclusive economic zones and continental shelf.
• The program will consist of various uncrewed and crewed submersibles exploring the sea bed.
• The mission will include the development of an indigenously developed submersible with a three-member crew.
  • Like Matsya 6000
• The mission will include the development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services.
• The mission will include the isolation of deep-sea symbionts, piezo tolerant and piezophile microbes.
• The mission will include the screening for novel biomolecules using culture-based and metagenomic approaches.
• The mission will include the assessment of biofouling, bio-corrosion processes in deep-sea environment and develop new antifouling technologies.

Project details 

• The mission is a flagship initiative of the Government of India.
• The mission is being developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai.
• The mission is a project of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• The mission is informally known as the Samudrayaan program, meaning “Sea Craft” in Sanskrit.

The mission could join the elite group of countries with specialist technology and vehicles to conduct subsea missions.

Matsya 6000

Matsya 6000 is India’s first manned submersible vehicle, capable of carrying three people to a depth of 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). It is being developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the Samudrayaan project. This topic covers the Civil Services exam syllabus of GS3 – Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Matsya 6000

• Matsya 6000 is a spherical vessel made of titanium alloy, with a diameter of 2.1 meters and a thickness of 80 millimetres.
• It has a normal operational endurance of 12 hours and a maximum endurance of 96 hours in emergencies.
• The submersible is equipped with a variety of sensors and equipment for scientific exploration
  • Sonar and imaging systems for mapping the seabed and identifying objects
  • Manipulators for collecting samples and performing tasks
  • Environmental sensors for measuring temperature, salinity, and other water parameters
  • Communication systems for staying in touch with the surface

Matsya 6000 is expected to be launched in 2026 and will be used for a variety of missions

• Exploring Deep-Sea Resources such as minerals and hydrocarbons
• Studying deep-sea Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Conducting search and rescue operations
• Promoting tourism and Ocean Literacy

The development of Matsya 6000 is a significant milestone for India’s ocean exploration program. It will give India the capability to independently explore and exploit the deep ocean, which is a vast and valuable resources.

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