Manned and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles

Suitable underwater vehicles are required for the exploration and harvesting ocean resources. Underwater vehicles have applications in the areas of exploration of oil & gas and minerals, defense, surveillance, pipe line survey, drilling support, exploration of oil & gas etc. With recent development of ROV with 6000 m depth capability India has joined select band of nations with such technology. It has always been left to indirect techniques for exploring the oceans, their resources and assessing the performance of the underwater systems. A manned submersible with scientists onboard with suitable observation, sampling and intervention devices can be a tool for the direct observation and intervention and sampling in deep oceans. Different stages of ocean technology development projects need direct observation by manned submersibles and it would be impractical to hire manned submersibles to meet this requirement

a) Objectives:

1. To design and develop a 6000 m depth rated manned submersible with a capacity to carry three crew members and scientific equipment in association with a joint partner
2. Development of work class remotely operated vehicle (up to 500m depth rated) for shallow water and polar application.

b) Participating Institutions:

National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai

c) Implementation Plans:

Developing a manned submersible with capacity to carry one pilot and two scientists to a water depth of 6000 m will be taken up with the help of joint partner.

Based on the experience gained in building Remotely Operable Vehicle for 6000 m depth a new state of the art work class deep water ROV will be developed with enhanced specifications A shallow water ROV will be developed to suit the needs of the off-shore industry will be developed. This ROV will also be suitable for research activities in polar regions too.

Joint partner for developing the manned submersible will be identified through global tender. The submersible will be classed by international certifying agencies like ABS, DNV etc. Complete technology transfer will be ensured by the active participation of Indian scientists & engineers at every stage of design, development, assembly and testing.

Development of deepwater work class ROV and shallow water polar ROV will be carried in-house based on the experience gained so far. Field testing and exploration studies will be carried out in association with the industry users and other research organizations.

Infrastructure facilities / lab requirements

It is proposed to have Test jetty for Tow vehicles. The group developed a Remotely Operable Vehicle with dimensions of 1.5 m X 1.5 m X 3 m height and the Tether Management System with a height of 3 m. The combined weight of the system is 8 ton in air. The manned submersible with a weight of 20 tons is also on the anvil. The proposed bay will have the facilities to assemble, integrate and test these types of underwater vehicles.

d) Deliverables:

1. Manned submersible.
2. Shallow water Remotely Operable Vehicles.

e) Budget requirement : 206.00 crores.

(Rs. In crores)