DEEP SEA MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India is set to be the 6th country to have its own deep-sea mission; 1st Stage of the harbour trail (40-50m) deep of the deep-sea mission is planned by September 2024; The Mission has the potential to contribute greatly to the overall growth of Indian economy

Deep Sea Mission

• About: It is a mission-mode project aimed at supporting the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
• Scope: It is a high-level multi-ministerial, multi-disciplinary programme designed to enhance understanding of both living and non-living resources in the deep sea of the Indian Ocean.
• Strategic Importance: It plays a crucial role in India's strategy to achieve Blue Economy status, focusing on sustainable use of ocean resources.
• Implementing Authority: The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Cost: The Mission has an estimated cost of 4077 crores and is set to span over 5 years (2021-2026), to be executed in phases.
• Components of the Mission: The Mission comprises six major components, including the development of technologies for deep-sea mining, manned submersibles, underwater robotics, ocean climate change advisory services, biodiversity exploration and conservation, deep ocean survey and exploration, and initiatives for energy and freshwater from the ocean, as well as an advanced marine station for ocean biology.

Matsyayaan 6000

• About: It is a three-person submersible designed to reach depths of 6,000 meters beneath the ocean's surface. It marks a significant advancement in deep-sea exploration capabilities.
• Structure: The submersible features a spherical design with a diameter of 2.1 meters.

oIt is constructed from an 80mm-thick titanium alloy, ensuring durability and the ability to withstand pressures up to 600 times greater than those at sea level.

• Operational Capabilities: The Matsya 6000 is equipped for extended missions, capable of operating continuously for 12 to 16 hours underwater.

oIt includes an oxygen supply that can sustain occupants for up to 96 hours, enabling longer-duration scientific research and exploration missions.