Deep Ocean Mission

About Deep Ocean Mission

• It is a mission-mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
• It is a high-level multi-ministerial, multidisciplinary programme for a better understanding of the deep sea living and non-living resources of the Indian Ocean.
• It was launched as a Central Sector Scheme with the overall estimated cost of Rs 4,077 crores for two phases of the Mission period during 2021-2026.
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-institutional Mission.
• The mission consists of six major components:
  • Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining and Manned Submersible and Underwater Robotics;
  • Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services;
  • Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity;
  • Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration;
  • Energy and freshwater from the Ocean;
  • Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology
• The Samudrayaan project under the Deep Ocean Mission is for the development of a manned submersible to carry three people to a depth of 6000 meters in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors for ocean exploration and observation. 
• The vehicle is called Matsya 6000. 
• The entire vehicle design has been completed and various sub-components like underwater battery, propulsion system, underwater telephone, navigation and communication devices, power distribution and control systems, personnel sphere for 500 m water depth, lift support system, control software, etc have been realised.

Deep Ocean Mission FAQs

Q1. Who launched the Deep Ocean Mission?

Ans. The Deep Ocean Mission was launched by the Government of India, specifically 

by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Q2. What is the purpose of the Deep Ocean Mission?

Ans. To develop technologies to harness the living and non-living resources from the deep-oceans.

Q3. Who owns the deep ocean?

Ans. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the deep ocean beyond national jurisdiction is considered a common heritage of mankind. 

Q4. What is the depth of the deepest ocean?

Ans. The deepest part of the ocean is called the Challenger Deep, approximately 10,935 meters (35,876 feet) deep, and is located beneath the western Pacific Ocean in the southern end of the Mariana Trench.

Source: BS