India’s fourth-generation deep-ocean submersible, Matsya-6000, has successfully completed its wet testing at the harbor, marking a significant step towards conducting shallow-water demonstrations at depths of up to 500 meters by the end of 2025, as per an official statement released on Monday.
Matsya-6000 is equipped with several innovative subsystems that ensure its functionality in the deep ocean environment. Key features include a main ballast system for diving, thrusters for movement in all directions, a battery bank for power supply, and syntactic foam for buoyancy. It also boasts advanced control hardware, software, and sophisticated underwater navigation devices. Communication is facilitated through an acoustic modem, underwater telephone, VHF for surface communication, and GPS for precise location tracking.
The submersible’s interior is designed with human life-support systems, along with displays for critical environmental parameters, navigation joysticks for maneuvering, and various oceanographic sensors. Underwater lighting and cameras are integrated into the exterior, all subsystems being indigenously designed and undergoing rigorous testing.
Following the completion of its design phase, Matsya underwent comprehensive dry tests at a 500-meter operational range. These tests, which were conducted to assess the submersible’s integration and performance, proved successful, allowing the submersible to be transported to the L&T Shipbuilding facility at Kattupalli Port near Chennai for wet tests between January 27 and February 12.
Although the restricted water depth in the harbor hindered underwater voice communication, the tests confirmed that Matsya-6000 is on track for future demonstrations in deeper waters. The successful completion of the tests at Kattupalli Port has raised confidence that the submersible will be ready for shallow-water demonstrations at depths of up to 500 meters by the end of 2025.
Under the government’s Deep Ocean Mission initiatives, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has entrusted the National Institute of Ocean Technology with the ambitious task of designing and developing the Matsya-6000, as part of the Samudrayan Project.
