India Unveils ‘Sagar Manthan’ Ocean Research Vessel to Strengthen Deep-Sea Exploration

India has taken a significant step toward expanding its indigenous ocean-research capabilities with the launch of ORV Sagar Manthan in Kolkata on September 9.
The advanced Ocean Research Vessel was launched at Rishi Bankim Shipyard, operated by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
The vessel has been designed and built by GRSE for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The project has been developed under Vertical-4 of the Deep Ocean Mission, which focuses on deep-ocean surveys and exploration.
The government has invested approximately ₹840 crore in the project, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
At 89.5 metres long, the vessel is designed as a multidisciplinary platform for scientific work across several areas of oceanography.
Its equipment includes advanced systems for seabed mapping, seismic studies, ocean profiling and atmospheric observations.
The ship will also support the deployment of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles for underwater research.
Its capabilities are intended to support investigations of the ocean floor and the collection of scientific samples from deep waters.
The vessel has been designed to operate in demanding marine conditions, including the Southern Ocean.
Officials said the ship is expected to strengthen India's ability to conduct ocean research without depending as heavily on foreign-built research platforms.
The vessel is also expected to contribute to studies involving marine resources, seabed geology, climate-related observations and other oceanographic research.
The project represents a major addition to India's specialised scientific research fleet and complements the country's broader Deep Ocean Mission.
Sagar Manthan is expected to gradually take over several roles currently associated with the much older ORV Sagar Kanya, which was acquired from Germany in 1983.
Following its launch, the vessel will undergo further construction, system integration and extensive sea trials before entering operational service.
The government expects the vessel to be ready for scientific deployment around 2028, subject to completion of testing and commissioning.