The Indian government has entrusted the National Institute of Ocean Technology with the task of designing and developing the 4th Generation deep-ocean human scientific submersible named “Matsya-6000,” as part of the Samudrayan Project.
The wet testing of the submersible was successfully completed recently.
Deep Ocean Mission
The initiative was taken under the Government of India’s Deep Ocean Mission initiatives.
“This cutting-edge submersible is engineered to accommodate three humans within its compact 2.1-meter diameter spherical hull, marking a significant milestone in India’s ocean exploration capabilities,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Following the completion of the design phase, various subsystems vital to Matsya-6000’s functionality were identified and developed.It also includes a sophisticated power distribution network, cutting-edge control hardware and software, along with advanced underwater navigation devices.
Communication systems include an acoustic modem, underwater telephone, and VHF for surface communication, supplemented by underwater acoustic positioning and GPS for precise surface location tracking.
Inside the spherical hull, careful attention has been given to the integration of human life-support systems, displays of various environmental/critical parameters, navigation joysticks for manoeuvrability, as well as various oceanographic sensors, underwater lighting and cameras outside the hull.
All these subsystems have been indigenously designed and are currently undergoing thorough integration and qualification testing.Following the successful completion of these tests, Matsya was transported to the L&T Shipbuilding facility located at Kattupalli Port, near Chennai during 27 Jan to 12 Feb, 2025 for conducting wet tests and demonstrating the submersible functionality.
Aim Of Test
The tests aimed to meticulously assess Matsya’s performance across several critical parameters.
Evaluations focused on the robustness of power and control networks, floatation and stability of the vehicle, human support and safety systems, and manoeuvrability within limited degrees of freedom, specifically forward and reverse motion.
Additionally, navigation and communication capabilities were scrutinized.
The scientific payloads, which included multiple sophisticated oceanographic sensors, were thoroughly tested and demonstrated to confirm their intended functionality.
