India's oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani has set off for its fifth mission of Sagar Maithri, which involves scientific partnerships for Ocean Research and Development (Ocean R&D) with Indian Ocean rim nations.
Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with the union government's vision of ''Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). It aims to strengthen scientific co-operation, capacity building and socio-economic engagement among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) nations focusing on oceanographic research.
INS Sagardhwani will retrace the historic routes of INS Kistna (later, INS Krishna and since decommissioned), which participated in the International Ocean Expedition (1962-'65). The initiative seeks to build sustained scientific collaboration with eight IOR countries - Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar.
INS Sagardhwani is a specialised marine acoustic research vessel, designed by NPOL and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). Commissioned in Jul '94, the ship has been a key platform for ocean observations and marine research for over three decades.
A slice of history
I, Captain K Rajeev Nair, NM, was her 2nd Commanding Officer from Dec '95 to Jun '97 and had got the ship moving. The ship, since her commission, had problems because of misaligned propeller shafts, that were straightened at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) thanks to the support that I'd got from VAdm Avanish Rai Tandon, the then CinC South and Commodore Bawa, the CMD, CSL. The ship was in the dry dock for about 90 days at a stretch for the purpose.
Soon after, the ship was deployed off the eastern coast for her first scientific expedition to survey a squarish plot of the sub-surface, surface water and its corresponding atmosphere column to earmark that area for future experiments related to our nuclear submarines and missiles! I remember the first signal that I made on completion, after ten days:-
From Sagardhwani
To FOCinC East, FOCinC South
Info NPOL
"Maiden scientific expedition successfully completed. Returning to harbour".
The signal was received with a lot of happiness and pride - with the thumping of tables - at the following morning staff meeting of the Headquarters, Southern Naval Command!
To establish that it wasn't merely a flash in the pan, had asked for a task off the western seaboard immediately after.
The ship carried out "Noise Measurement in and around the Bombay High" as her second scientific expedition. Shutting down engines and all machinery to provide 'an ultra silent ship' to the scientists, embarked on board, to facilitate collection of readings/observations of the entire area was a daunting task but the ship pull India's oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani has set off for its fifth mission of Sagar Maithri, which involves scientific partnerships for Ocean Research and Development (Ocean R&D) with Indian Ocean rim nations.
Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with the union government's vision of ''Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). It aims to strengthen scientific co-operation, capacity building and socio-economic engagement among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) nations focusing on oceanographic research.
INS Sagardhwani will retrace the historic routes of INS Kistna (later, INS Krishna and since decommissioned), which participated in the International Ocean Expedition (1962-'65). The initiative seeks to build sustained scientific collaboration with eight IOR countries - Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar.
INS Sagardhwani is a specialised marine acoustic research vessel, designed by NPOL and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). Commissioned in Jul '94, the ship has been a key platform for ocean observations and marine research for over three decades.
A slice of history
I, Captain K Rajeev Nair, NM, was her 2nd Commanding Officer from Dec '95 to Jun '97 and had got the ship moving. The ship, since her commission, had problems because of misaligned propeller shafts, that were straightened at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) thanks to the support that I'd got from VAdm Avanish Rai Tandon, the then CinC South and Commodore Bawa, the CMD, CSL. The ship was in the dry dock for about 90 days at a stretch for the purpose.
Soon after, the ship was deployed off the eastern coast for her first scientific expedition to survey a squarish plot of the sub-surface, surface water and its corresponding atmosphere column to earmark that area for future experiments related to our nuclear submarines and missiles! I remember the first signal that I made on completion, after ten days:-
From Sagardhwani
To FOCinC East, FOCinC South
Info NPOL
"Maiden scientific expedition successfully completed. Returning to harbour".
The signal was received with a lot of happiness and pride - with the thumping of tables - at the following morning staff meeting of the Headquarters, Southern Naval Command!
To establish that it wasn't merely a flash in the pan, had asked for a task off the western seaboard immediately after.
The ship carried out "Noise Measurement in and around the Bombay High" as her second scientific expedition. Shutting down engines and all machinery to provide 'an ultra silent ship' to the scientists, embarked on board, to facilitate collection of readings/observations of the entire area was a daunting task but carried it off without any problem whatsoever!
