The Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), which has earlier cut its teeth on a remotely-operated ROSUB-6000, is pushing the technology envelope further to develop a deep-sea manned submersible that can dive to depths of up to 6,000 metres.
Shailesh Nayak, secretary at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, told this correspondent that scientists have already begun to develop the technologies required for building the diving capsule. The design of the submersible’s pressure hull, to be made of titanium alloys to withstand pressures in the range of 600 bars at such depths, is particularly critical, he said. Encapsulated in the pressure hull would be the sub’s crew compartment and life support systems.The project is estimated to cost about Rs.300 crores to the exchequer. While NIOT is awaiting the final go-ahead from the ministry, the submersible is billed to be ready for its maiden dive five years from now. The project is being executed in collaboration with a consortium of scientific institutions in the U.S. and Russia.
According to Dr. Nayak, NIOT has been exchanging notes with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is preparing for its manned lunar mission, on designing human habitation in an alien environment. “It is just the opposite of space, though, with pressure increasing steadily as you descend,” he said. A senior scientist closely associated with the manned sub project said the submersible is being designed for a diving endurance of 12 hours, with emergency support for 72 hours. It will have an integrated navigation system for redundancy. The manned sub will catapult India into the elite league of nations operating research manned submersibles like the U.S. (Alvin); France (Nautile); Russia (MIR 1 and 2); Japan (Shinkai) and China (Jiaolong).
