Sagar Nidhi is latest to join India’s scientific endeavors, after Science Minister Kapil Sibal and Shipping Minister T R Baalu dedicated this Oceanic Research Vessel (ORV) to the nation on March 3.
Built at a cost of 232 crore with a length of 104 metres and 18 metres wide the ship can map India’s marine resources and will adorned Bay of Bengal while helping in exploring undersea deposits of future energy resource, methane.
Kapil Sibal briefing on the vessel said, “The Sagar Nidhi is a world class vessel; few of its kind exist in the world. It can be deployed to protect the common man in the event of a tsunami, to investigate the wealth of the bottom of the ocean and our national wealth.”
“It will be used to solve the energy problems of India, because of a large amount of methane is entrapped in gas hydrates deep in the ocean,” he added.
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) received Sagar Nidhi built in Italy, the ship can take difficult voyage along India’s vast coastline and can even sail to Antarctica in summers by cutting through ice.
This most sophisticated ORV in India’s possession is capable of carrying 30 scientists and a voyage of 45 days at a stretch. It is equipped to launch submarine capsule that can take scientist on board to a depth of 6km below the sea level.
Sagar Nidhi, other than performing various researches in the sea bed can also pass Tsunami warning within 10 minutes through a network of ground stations and satellites.
Various other studies have shown that India has huge deposits of marine resources; this ORV can be used to search future gas hydrates (untapped energy resource) and cures for many chronic diseases. The vessel can also be helpful in oceanographic and hydrographic research.
This vessel will for sure help to harness the potential of our sea beds with valuable deposits of marine resources and also serve in taking out further expedition to Antarctica for research purposes.
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