Kolkata : Marking a major milestone in India’s drive towards Atmanirbharta in oceanographic research and maritime technology, the state-of-the-art Ocean Research Vessel ORV Sagar Manthan (Yard 3041) was launched at Rishi Bankim Shipyard in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Designed, engineered and built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the vessel was launched virtually by Union Minister for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh. His spouse, Mrs Manju Singh, formally named the vessel in keeping with the traditional ship-launching ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by Dr T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with his spouse Mrs Kavita Ellanti, besides senior officials from MoES, NCPOR, GRSE and the Deep Ocean Mission.
Calling the occasion a “red-letter day” for NCPOR, the Ministry and the country, Dr Jitendra Singh praised the teams involved for achieving the launch within just two years of signing the contract and around five months after keel laying. He said the vessel reflected India’s growing capabilities in indigenous shipbuilding and the government’s focus on self-reliance.
Dr Singh highlighted the strategic importance of ocean research, noting that better scientific data on oceans is essential for understanding climate change, melting polar glaciers, maritime impacts and disaster risks. He said research platforms such as Sagar Manthan would strengthen India’s scientific capabilities and contribute to its role in global ocean geopolitics and environmental protection.
The new vessel will progressively replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya, which was procured from Germany in 1983. The Ministry of Earth Sciences is also working towards acquiring additional oceanographic vessels, including a Polar Research Vessel, to expand India’s research capabilities.
Built Under Deep Ocean Mission
ORV Sagar Manthan has been constructed under Vertical-4 (Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration) of the Government of India’s flagship Deep Ocean Mission, at an estimated cost of around ₹840 crore.
The all-weather, multidisciplinary vessel has been designed to operate in challenging oceanic conditions, including the Southern Ocean, and is expected to have a service life of around 30 years.
Advanced Scientific Capabilities
The vessel is equipped with several advanced systems, including:
- Dynamic positioning and multibeam bathymetry systems
- Multichannel seismic and sub-bottom profiling systems
- Weather radar and atmospheric observation facilities
- Drop keels and advanced water-column sampling systems
- Deployment facilities for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)
It will support a wide range of scientific activities, including surveys along the Indian Ocean mid-ocean ridges, exploration for multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide mineralisation, environmental baseline studies, upper-air observations and CTD profiling.
Dr T. Srinivasa Kumar said the vessel represented an important shift in India’s approach—from acquiring sophisticated research platforms from abroad to designing and constructing them domestically. He also praised GRSE for successfully executing the complex project and demonstrating India’s ability to build advanced oceanographic platforms.
The vessel has been built in compliance with international regulatory standards and carries dual-class certification from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
From Contract to Launch
The project was formally contracted in July 2024, followed by the first steel cutting on November 29, 2024, and keel laying on April 8, 2026. With its launch, the vessel has now entered the next phase of construction.
Further work, including superstructure erection, system integration and extensive sea trials, will be undertaken before the vessel is finally delivered to NCPOR/MoES for commissioning, scheduled for 2028.
The launch ceremony also saw the unveiling of the vessel’s name plaque in the presence of Dr M.V. Ramanamurthy, Mission Director, Deep Ocean Mission, and Dr Thamban Meloth, Director, NCPOR, MoES, following the welcome address by Cmdr P.R. Hari, C&MD, GRSE.