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Category — GS Paper 3 ///Published — 2026-09-11 ///Exam — Both Prelims and Mains ///Tags — Rapid Fire CA, Quick Facts For Prelims, Science & Technology ///Category — GS Paper 3 ///Published — 2026-09-11 ///Exam — Both Prelims and Mains ///Tags — Rapid Fire CA, Quick Facts For Prelims, Science & Technology ///

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Sagar Manthan: India's New Ocean Research Vessel

India recently launched Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Manthan at Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata, designed and built indigenously by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for NCPOR under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The vessel will replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya and can conduct deep-sea surveys up to 6 km depth, marking a major stride towards self-reliance in oceanographic research and the Blue Economy.

2026-09-11

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Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Manthan

India recently launched the Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Manthan at Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata, marking a major step towards self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in oceanographic research and maritime technology.

Key Facts

The vessel (Yard 3041) has been designed, engineered and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
It is built for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
It will gradually replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya, which was acquired from Germany in 1983.
It is an all-weather, multidisciplinary research vessel with an expected service life of around 30 years.
It carries dual-class certification from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

Research Capabilities

Designed to operate in challenging oceanic environments, including the Southern Ocean.
Equipped with:
Multibeam bathymetry systems
Multichannel seismic systems
Sub-bottom profiling
Weather radar and dynamic positioning
Facilities for deploying Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)

Deep Ocean Capability

Can undertake swath multibeam and geophysical seismic surveys up to depths of 6 km, enabling advanced deep-sea mapping and marine resource assessment.

Scientific Applications

Oceanographic and geophysical research
Surveys for multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide mineralisation
Exploration of marine mineral resources such as manganese nodules and polymetallic sulphides
Environmental baseline studies
Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) profiling
Water-column sampling, seabed sampling and atmospheric observations

Strategic Significance

Represents India's transition from procuring ocean research platforms abroad to building advanced research infrastructure domestically.
Strengthens capabilities in:
Climate studies
Disaster prediction
Maritime domain awareness
Blue Economy
Supports India's Deep Ocean Mission objectives and potential seabed resource exploration in the Indian Ocean region.

Related Context

NCPOR, headquartered in Goa, is India's premier institution for polar and Southern Ocean research and manages India's Antarctic programme.
Other Indian research vessels include Sagar Nidhi, Sagar Sampada, and Sagar Purvi.
The launch aligns with the Blue Economy agenda (a core component of Vision 2030 and the Ministry's Deep Ocean Mission under MoES).