Largest India-built research vessel to help NCPOR tap metal wealth’s depths

PANAJI: India’s deep-ocean scan for rare minerals and metals will be propelled to greater depths of understanding with the Vasco-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) ordering a new ocean research vessel.
As part of the country’s deep-ocean mission, the 89.5m vessel — the largest research ship to be built in an Indian shipyard — will explore the Indian Ocean for minerals and metals.

The vessel will be built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) on a Rs 839.5 crore contract. The vessel is expected to be ready in three years. The vessel will not only be able to undertake deep ocean missions but will also be able to embark on Southern Ocean studies.
“The ship is meant for deep sea exploration of minerals and rare metals. Govt has funded the ship under the deep-ocean mission to push for the exploration of marine metals,” said NCPOR director Thamban Meloth. “We are looking for metallic sulphides, which have copper, zinc, and other metals important for future technologies.”
The NCPOR’s research is restricted because of the lack of a capable vessel.
“The current ship is very old and cannot undertake such expeditions,” Meloth said. “The new ship will be able to operate in cold waters and light ice conditions in the Southern Ocean, though it will not be able to go to Antarctica.”
The vessel will have a maximum speed of 14 knots (25kmph) and will be equipped with laboratories, scientific equipment, and facilities. They will include a multi-beam bathymetry system, multichannel seismics, ocean profilers, seabed samplers, onboard analytical systems, and heavy-duty deck machinery.
The vessel is designed to minimise underwater radiated noise.
The vessel will have all-weather capability, the capacity to carry 34 scientists, and is expected to serve India for the next 30 years.
The new ship will be built under the dual classification of Indian Register of Shipping and American Bureau of Shipping and will conform to the latest marine pollution standards of International Maritime Organisation.