Harbour trial for 'Samudrayaan' next month in TN

INDIA's tryst with deep sea exploration will begin with the harbour trial at Kattupalli harbour in Tamil Nadu next month.

- BALA CHAUHAN @Bengaluru

The harbour trial for 'Samudrayaan', a three-member deep sea exploration that is scheduled for 2025 and 2026, is likely to be held in December at Kattupalli harbour, north of Ennore Port, said National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) Director Balaji Ramakrishnan.

"The harbour trial will be held at a depth of 10-12 metres inside the ocean in a controlled environment. We have been conducting laboratory tests, but next month, the assisted submergence will be held at a depth of 10-12 metres inside the ocean. The trial will check the integration of all the components of the submersible, functioning of the four propellers, buoyancy that will govern the vehicle's stability inside water etc," said the top ocean scientist.