Scientists are gearing up for a deep-sea exploration endeavor with the vehicle Matsya-6000, under India’s Deep Ocean Mission. Scheduled to take place in late 2024, this project’s objective is to probe the depths of the Indian Ocean, exploring as deep as 6,000 meters. This upcoming mission takes a note from the recent mishap involving Titan, another submersible that disappeared during its expedition. Learning from this unfortunate incident, safety measures for the crew employed in the Matsya-6000 mission will be thoroughly evaluated for their effectiveness.
Titan Submersible: The Journey and Unfortunate Incident
The Titan submersible was manned by the privately owned U.S. company, OceanGate, which specializes in organizing underwater expeditions for research and tourism purposes. Built with commercial components, it was more cost-efficient and lighter than other similar deep-diving vessels.
Titan’s mission was to visit the wreckage site of RMS Titanic, located nearly four thousand meters underwater in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. However, an hour and forty-five minutes into the expedition, contact with Titan was lost.
Later, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that Titan had suffered a “catastrophic implosion,” resulting in the presumed death of all five occupants onboard. Such implosions occur when the external force from water pressure exceeds the hull’s strength, causing the vessel to implode violently.
Understanding the Materials: Carbon Fibres and Titanium
Titan was made from carbon fibers and titanium. Carbon fiber is a strong and lightweight polymer, which can be up to five times sturdier than steel and twice as stiff. On the other hand, Titanium is as solid as steel but approximately 45% lighter. It can withstand substantial pressures and has elasticity, meaning it can stretch under stress and return to its original shape once the stress is reduced.
Differentiating Submarine and Submersible
Though often used interchangeably, there are some key differences between submarines and submersibles. A submarine is an underwater vehicle capable of operating independently and possesses sufficient power reserves to allow it to embark and return from expeditions. In contrast, a submersible is typically smaller and less powerful, requiring a ship for launching and recovery. The lost submersible Titan was operating with a vessel named Polar Prince.
Matsya-6000: India’s Pioneer in Deep Ocean Exploration
Developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in India, Matsya-6000 is an indigenous deep-sea diving submersible. It is designed to explore the Indian Ocean’s depths at about 6,000 meters. To achieve this goal, three Indian navigators will embark on a mission approximately 1,500 km away from Kanyakumari, India.
The primary objective of this mission is to support India’s energy requirements and explore ocean resources. This aligns with the Indian Government’s Deep Ocean Mission, which is focused on developing technology and vehicles for ocean scanning and mining. Part of the exploration includes searching for Polymetallic Nodules that contain valuable minerals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
Learning from Past Incidents: Ensuring Safety in Matsya-6000
The accident involving Titan underscores the need for extensive safety evaluations and repeated testing in submarine missions. Despite the fact Titan was equipped with multiple communication systems, the inability to locate it after it went missing raises questions. Future submersibles may include “black box” equivalents, similar to those found in aircraft, to aid in investigating incidents.
Furthermore, decisions like selecting titanium for the submersible’s enclosure, using syntactic foam, and implementing acoustic communication and tracking systems require thorough assessment. In light of Titan’s incident, these will be carefully evaluated to ensure optimum safety in the Matsya-6000 mission.
Relevant Previous Exam Question
A question in UPSC Civil Services Exam 2023, related to the abundance of specific minerals along certain coastal tracts of India – specifically, Ilmenite and rutile – was: “They are rich sources of which one?” The options were (a) Aluminium, (b) Copper, (c) Iron, (d) Titanium. The correct answer was (d) Titanium. The explanation given for this also mentioned that India is rich in heavy mineral resources, which majorly occur along its coastal stretches.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024