Infrastructure support forms an essential pre-requisite for ocean development activities. The extension of jurisdiction over an area of 2 million sq. km of ocean space i.e. Exclusive Economic Zone and consequent access to new sources of energy, food and minerals requires greater strides in ocean engineering, especially in tasks related to structures, materials, instrumentation, underwater systems etc. Two research vessels viz. ORV Sagar Kanya and FORV Sagar Sampada were acquired during the Sixth Plan period. These are being used for carrying out research cruises for oceanographic studies and for assessing and evaluating the resource potential of maritime zones. There is need for augmenting and strengthening of research vessel capabilities. Infrastructural support for providing complete and reliable information system through a network of data centres on marine resources and their environment is also essential. An important component of the ocean development programme also relates to the building up of technology. To be self reliant, ocean related technologies would have to be developed, tested and operated indigenously.

Keeping these in view the Department has taken steps to augment the variegated infrastructure already available in the country and to evolve a national ocean information system. Plans for acquisition of two coastal research vessels and to establish a National Institute of Ocean Technology for development of indigenous technology in ocean sector have also been formulated.

The Department of Ocean Development, in association with twelve national institutions, has designed a National Ocean Information System (NOIS). Under this programme data on various ocean related parameters generated by the national institutions, universities and other R&D institutions are centralised, stored and disseminated to various users. The data centres established at India Meteorological Department, Pune; National Institute of Oceanography, Goa; Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow; and Geological Survey of India, Calcutta have become operational. A Marine Pollution Information System within the Department for maintaining information on pollution levels at 70 locations along the coastline of the country is being developed. The past data on oil spills along the Indian coast will be integrated with this system.

During the year 1992-93 strengthening of the capabilities of data collection and processing at Zonal Office, Central Pollution Control Board, Calcutta and Regional Research Laboratory, Thiruvanthapuram, finalisation of formats for exchange of data on marine pollution, marine geology and marine algae, and creation of infrastructural facilities for a Marine Pollution Information System have been the major activities under this project.

Lack of adequate research vessel support has been a major constraint in implementing in full measure the programmes on coastal zone and islands particularly the marine pollution monitoring programmes. During 1992-93 action has been initiated to procure two indigenously made coastal research vessels. National Ship Design and Research Centre, Ministry of Surface Transport, Visakhapatnam was entrusted with the work of concept design of the vessel. The construction is expected to be completed within two years from the date of award of the contract. Simultaneously, the possibility of acquiring a multipurpose research vessel which will cater to the needs of the polymetallic nodules programme and other oceanographic work is also being explored.

The need for the establishment of an Institute of Ocean Technology has been felt since the time of Seventh Plan. The concept was to establish a greenfield institute on the east coast relating to development of ocean technologies.

Considering the twin needs of optimal utilisation of resources and achieving results in the shortest time, it is proposed to establish National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in association with lIT Madras where specialised facilities already exist in its Ocean Engineering Centre. The existing facilities at lIT Madras will be strengthened and additional facilities as required will be created.

The thrust of the proposed Institute is to develop technologies for specific projects, such as

(i) Wave Energy

(ii) Seabed mining, survey and exploration

(iii) Coastal Zone Management

The Institute will have an autonomous status under the Department of Ocean Development. The Institute will address to filling up critical gaps in technology development in ocean sector and endeavour to complement the work on ocean sciences carried out in National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.