The objectives of technology promotion through mission
modes are carried out in the following areas:
1. Ocean energy mission
2. Marine instrumentation
3. Coastal and environmental engineering
1. OCEAN ENERGY
The Ocean Energy Mission of the Institute continues to focus
on mainly two forms of energy namely
Wave Energy
Thermal Energy Conversion
Under Wave Energy the project on hydrodynamic aspects the
Backward Bent Ducted Buoy which was being carried out at
IIT, Chennai has been completed.
The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion project whose
feasibility study was carried out in 1997-98, was given
final approval in September 1998 . Currently NIOT is working
on the final engineering of the 1 MW floating OTEC plant
using ammonia as the working fluid. The objective is to
install the 1MW floating OTEC plant by mid 2000 and
demonstrate it for a period of one year.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Principle of Power Extraction
A Rankine cycle with a working fluid such as ammonia is a
first choice for extraction energy from the temperature
difference.
The essential components of the cycle are an evaporator,
turbine-Generator, Condenser and a Pump for circulating the
working fluid. Other components required for the OTEC plant
include pumps for supply of warm water (from the surface of
the ocean) to the evaporator and cold water (from a depth of
1000 m) to the condenser. This is shown in Figure1. Also
Shown in the T-S (Temperature Entropy) diagram for the
Rankine cycle.
The bathymetry of the coast around India, where cold water
at a depth of 1000m is available at about 40 km from the
shore necessitates the use of a floating platform to house
the OTEC plant. NIOT proposes to build a 1 MW floating OTEC
plant working on a closed cycle off the coast of Tamilnadu.
Underwater transducer development
Marine Instrumentation group at NIOT is working on the
development of underwater electro acoustic transducers based
on piezoelectric materials as well as the advanced
magnetostrctive materials. The basic instrumentation
required for the characterization of transducers in air as
well as a completely equipped underwater test laboratory
including a water tank is being built up in the new campus
of NIOT at Narayanapuram, Chennai.
33kHz Echo-Sounder Transducer
Tonpilz type transducers utilizing PZT-4 materials have been
used for the development. Initially, prototype single
element transducers utilizing two active elements has been
developed and tested. The passive materials used are brass,
Aluminum, Berilium Copper. An array of 32 elements is being
made for obtaining a beam width of 20 degree and the work is
under progress.
8kHz Air Acoustic Flexural disc Transducer for ATG
Since large displacements are essential for making an air
acoustic transducer, flexural disc design has been adopted.
The active material used is PZT-4 and the passive material
is aluminum. The sensor acts as a transmitter as well as a
receiver. The sensors are presently used in the Acoustic
Tide Gauge systems developed by NIOT.
Magnetostrictive transducers
Giant magnetostrictive materials based on rare earth iron
alloy Terfenol has been used. Prototype Tonpilz air acoustic
transducer working at 8kHz for use in liquid level sensors,
acoustic tide gauge has been developed. It is a transceiver
and hence the same sensor acts as a transmitter as well as a
receiver. For this sensor, active material available from
IIT, Chennai has been made use of.
The technology demonstration of the development of a
prototype under water transducer working in the frequency
range 1 to 16 kHz has also been carried out. A low weight
piston type design has been adopted. Further development in
the direction of using it in an Acoustic Sub-bottom Profiler
(ASP) for Integrated Underwater Survey System is under
progress.
The Plate heat exchanger
Plates with different Chevron angles
TURBINE GENERATOR
The OTEC turbine is characterized by low-pressure ratios and
relatively high mass flow of working fluid. The output of
the turbine may vary more than 1 20% due to the variation in
temperature and hence the turbine is to be designed to have
a good isentropic expansion efficiency over a considerable
range of pressure ratio. The sea water flow rates and hence
the system lead loss is very much dependent on the
isentropic efficiency of the turbine.
For the 1 MW OTEC plant, a 4-stage axial flow reaction
turbine coupled to a synchronous generator through 2 : 1
speed reduction gear box is chosen for power conversion. For
a considerable range of pressure ratios the turbine
efficiency remains above 85%.
UTILITY OF OTEC PLANTS:
For an energy starved nation like India, the main use of an
OTEC plant would be the electricity generated. However there
are other benefits which can be simultaneously derived from
an OTEC plant. These are desalinated water and mariculture .
Smaller rating plants in the range of 1-5 MW can be directly
used as base power for islands like the Andamans, though
they may not be as economical as fossil fuelled ones in such
low capacity ranges. Once the 1 MW plant is commissioned, a
hands-on experience would have been achieved on various
aspects of an OTEC plant. This expertise may then be
utilized for an island community where an OTEC plant would
satisfy three different objectives simultaneously i.e
OTEC PLANT FOR ISLANDS
As is well known, supplying power to small island
communities from the mainland is a difficult proposion.
Islands especially in the tropics would be best
beneficiaries of electricity from an OTEC plant. The plant
could be land based avoiding the need for a floating platform.
Energy
A net power of 1 MW could meet the major requirement for
islands like the Andamans. Thus, the rating of the OTEC
plant need be only incrementally higher than the current 1
MW plant. The technologies established in the implementation
if the 1 MW plant can therefore be utilized immediately.
Desalination
One way to produce large quantities of desalinated water is
with a hybrid OTEC system in which desalinated water is
produced by vacuum flash distillation and power is produced
by a closed cycle loop. For example, it has been shown that
a 2MW net plant could produce about 4320 cubic meters for
desalinated waters a day. This water would be welcome on an
island where fresh water supply is limited for agriculture
and drinking.
Deep water supported mariculture
The cold seawater drawn from large depths is rich in
nutrients and relatively free of pathogens. It is a very
good medium for growing phyto-plankton and micoralgae, which
in turn can be used for growing commercially valuable fish.
Large volumes of cold water are involved and mariculture is
in its infancy in India. Thus, the OTEC plant could promote
developments in these areas as well.
2. Marine Instrumentation
Marine Instrumentation mission of NIOT is geared towards
development of instruments and technologies for under-sea
use. The thrust of the mission is development of acoustic
based instruments.
INTEGRATED UNDERWATER SURVEY SYSTEM
Objectives
To design and develop a state of art, reconfigurable
Integrated Under water Survey System (IUSS) comprising sub-
bottom profiler, side scan sonar and single frequency
echosounder with the capability to change over from one mode
to another by changing the tow fish, transducer arrays and
control electronics.
Background
Electromagnetic waves (including optical) and other forms of
energy quickly get scattered/absorbed in the highly non-
homogeneous marine environment. Therefore these have found
limited usage for ocean applications. Sound wave, on the
other hand, is the only from of energy which can travel to
large distances without appreciable attenuation in the
ocean. The submarine warfare in the Second World War spurred
the development of the SONAR technology. Subsequent research
as led to many useful civilian application apart from the
military ones. Today's acoustic based instruments can
remotely map the ocean floor, look below the sea bad,
measure various physical oceanographic parameters such as
ocean currents to a very high degree of accuracy, locate
school of fish etc. and also are indispensable navigation
aids.
Thus exploration and exploitation of the marine resources,
both living and non-living, of India's vast coastline and
EEZ, call for a number of acoustic based instruments which
are at present totally imported. The marine Instrumentation
mission of the National Institute of Ocean Technology has
been mainly geared towards development of acoustic based
instruments to meet these requirements along with the other
specialty instruments.
The planned IUSS is a unique, fully integrated survey system
consisting of :
Sub-bottom profiler
Having a sound wave projector and an array of hydrophones.
The functionality of sub-bottom profiler is that the
acoustic waves reflected by successive layers of sand and
slit below the sea bottom are used to infer the nature of
the strata.
Side scan sonar
Having two transceivers (one for star-board side and another
one for port side). The functionality of side scan sonar is
that the amplitude of the back scattered acoustic wave are
used to image the sea bed.
Single frequency echosounder
Having one low frequency transceiver. In echosounder, the
vertically oriented single beam to sea bed is used to infer
the depth.
The IUSS is adequate to fulfill the most of the survey
requirements for different applications like hydrographic
survey, sediment classification, cable and pipeline survey
and search and recovery. This is also very important for
coastal engineering, geotechnical design and resource
estimation work since it drastically reduces the need for
expensive core drilling operation.
Thus IUSS in itself is an important instrument, apart from
having several subsystems such as tow fish, transceivers,
sophisticated signal processing and display etc. which are
more or less common to several other underwater instruments
such as mapping sonars, mine hunting sonars, navigation aids
etc. This will also enable to bring out a number of
individual systems like Echosounder, Side scan sonar, Sub-
bottom profiler, etc. out of the technology established
under this project.
3. Coastal and Environmental Engineering
The objective of this mission is to conduct research
(coastal and environmental) and provide consultancy services
to the maritime sector in coastal and environmental
engineering. NIOT specialises in computer modelling of
coastal processes, hydrographic survey, design of coastal
protection measures and port & harbour construction,
environmental impact assessments, and water quality
assessments.
The current research activities in Environmental Engineering are
Wasteload Allocation in Selected Estuaries
Development of EIA Guidelines for Coastal & Marine Sector
Physical Oceanographic Studies for the COMAPS
Wasteload Allocation in Selected Estuaries
The WLA Project is one the components under the ICMAM
programme of the Department of Ocean Development ICMAM is
conducted with an IDA based credit to the Government of
India under the Environmental Capacity Building project of
MOEF. Three sites are scheduled to be studied for WLA's .
NIOT is responsible for overall technical co-ordination of
all three WLA's and will conduct the WLA study at Ennore
directly. The Ennore WLA has completed three synoptic
surveys for the purpose of calibrating & validating a water
quality model. A review of the designated best has been
completed. Experiments on reaeration rates, BOD decay rates,
Pathogen indicators decay rate, SOD diversity and
ecotoxicology are underway. Water quality modeling has begun
and the project is scheduled to be completed by December
2000.
Development of EIA Guidelines for Coastal & Marine Sector
The EIA Project is one the components under the ICMAM
programme of the Department of Ocean Development ICMAM is
conducted with an IDA based credit to the Government of
India under the Environmental Capacity Building project of
MOEF.The project group presented a draft guideline for ports
& harbours to an national expert group. The expert group
suggested changes to the long form while suggesting, writing
a short form of the guideline. The draft of the short form
is ready and will be reviewed shortly by the national
experts.
Physical Oceanographic Studies for the COMAPS
The Coastal & Ocean monitoring Predictive System (COMAPS)
is a long term monitoring program under the Department of
Ocean Development . Over the last decade, the COMAPS
program has collected extensive quality data along the
coastal waters of India. The physical oceanographic
component of COMAPS under NIOT designs & develops water
quality monitoring programs with physical oceanographic
measurements such that WLA's can be conducted at various
sites. Currently, three sites are under study by NIOT and
their COMAPS partners. Vishakapatnam with the Regional
centre - NIO at Vishakapatnam, Paradeep with Regional
Research lab, Bhubaneswar and Mangalore with Regional Centre
- NIO, Cochi. The first phase sampling is completed and two
more phases will be completed by September 2000.
NIOT is also in collaboration with various departments is
trying to achieve the above mentioned missions
NIOT collaborators
Department of Fisheries, Government of Tamilnadu, Chennai
This Department provides the facilities available at its
hatchery located in Neelankarai, Chennai, alongwith 2-3
research assistants / staff for technology development
programme. The existing shrimp hatchery shed measuring an
area of 357m2 has already been handed over to NIOT for
upgrading the facilities in order to suit the breeding,
larval rearing and fattening programme of lobsters.
Department of Fisheries, Andaman & Nicobar Administration,
Port Blair
This department provides logistic support for undertaking
the survey of lobster resources including provision of boats
for survey, identification of sites for sea ranching,
identification of beneficiaries for lobster fattening and
providing financial assistance for undertaking fattening and
culture alongwith the Department of Fisheries, Government of
Tamilnadu, in their respective areas. On completion of
technology, alongwith the earlier mentioned department, it
will also take steps to disseminate and extend the
technology for societal application in other areas,
utilizing these facilities.
Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Chennai
This University will provide technical consultancy in the
form of research and scientific expertise needed for the
execution of breeding, larval rearing, fattening and culture
operations of lobster and also the faculty required for
training on all aspects of the technology development in
marine living resources enhancement.
Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Chennai
This institute carries out the pollution monitoring
activities under the COMAPS in coordination with NIOT. The
CECRI extend the staff and personnel required for this
purpose in Port Blair on a regular basis.
Aquaculture Foundation of India, Chennai
AFI provides project management consultancy, survey and
population studies consultancy, and training and extension
consultancy. AFI has a direct link with NIOT and it will
carry out a thorough pre and post-ranching surveys, interact
with Department of Fisheries, Government of Tamilnadu and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands Administration and others for
training and extension.
NIOT is also sponsoring projects through IITs and R&D
institutions in the country. The following are some of the
projects completed:
Ocean Science And Technology For Islands
Ocean Science and Technology for Islands
Project Completed
Shrimp culture in acid sulphate soil
Cage culture of finfishes
Rejuvenation of corals
Shrimp culture in acid sulphate soil
With a view to demonstrating the technology of shrimp
farming in acid sulphate soil for the benefit of island
community, a shrimp culture project was taken up through a
registered society Andaman & Nicobar Shrimp Farming
The culture ponds in ANCOST
Cage culture of finfishes
A project for culture of finfishes in cages was taken up at
Sisostris Bay near Port-Blair. Twenty varieties of sub-adult
fishes were cultured in the cages, which included Terapon
Jarbua, Sillago sihama, Scolopsis spp., Siganus spp.,
Epinepheles spp., Lutjanus spp.etc.,. The preliminary
experiments have revealed that there is ample potential for
cage culture in the island groups, but the technology needs
refinement and upgradation through extensive field trials
for commercially important/ promising species.
Rejuvenation of corals
The A&N Islands have a unique coral ecosystem. Luxurious
growth of corals is present at Nicobar and other areas of
the Andaman Islands. Due to human intervention in the past,
the corals, particularly around Port Blair, were destroyed
and only a few remains of corals are now present.
Lobster resources survey
A survey on lobster landing at various sites in the Andaman
& Nicobar Islands and in the Gulf of Mannar is being carried
out by the Aquaculture Foundation of India, engaging the
field assistants provided by NIOT. This study is aimed at
bringing out information on the seasonal variation in the
landings of various species of lobsters. This survey will be
completed by the end of December 1999 in the Gulf of Mannar
and by the end of February 2000 in the Andaman & Nicobar
Islands. It is also proposed to undertake another survey in
order to evaluate the suitability of Andaman & Nicobar
Islands for sea ranching purposes.
Lobster breeding
Environmental changes especially photoperiod and temperature
are efficiently utilized by the decapods to synchronize
moulting and reproduction according to appropriate seasons.
Gonad inhibiting hormone (GIH) and gonad stimulating hormone
(GSH) are the two primary hormones presumed to occur in both
sexes. GIH is mainly regulating the process of
vitellogenesis in the female while GSH is attributed dual
role of promotion of vitellogenesis along with suppression
of entry into premoult stage. Decapod oocytes grow in two
phases comprising an initial phase in which the oocyte is
prepared for vitellogenesis and a second phase during which
yolk is deposited in the ooplasm. Recent investigations in
decapod crustaceans also indicate the involvement of
vertebrate-type of steroids during gonadal maturation.
Besides, the role of biogenic amines in XO-SG complex has
also been demonstrated during the development of gonads.
Taking into consideration of above research findings, new
researches are in progress to develop a breeding technology
for lobsters. The project activities are directed towards
induction of gonadal maturation by way of hormonal and
environmental manipulations.
Phyllosoma and puerulus rearing
The protracted period of larval development in lobsters,
which is one of the limiting factors, requires development
of appropriate technology towards lobster fattening. In
order to shorten the larval development period and to
promote moulting, administration of various moult - related
hormones are being attempted. Further, several feed trials
are being planned to enhance the growth
Lobster fattening
In the present programme major emphasis is being given to
the studies on enhancement of growth by manipulating
eyestalk neuropeptides. Especially moult inhibiting
neuropeptides in addition to controlling metabolism may have
a control over general metabolism related to tissue growth
since the new tissue growth occurs only during the
intermoult period although its complete actions in the serum
is necessary to allow the ecdysone to secrete the new
cuticle. Considering these facts regarding the hormonal
control of growth and moulting, the involvement of
neuropeptides and ecdysteroids during different growth
stages is being explored. Parallely, feeding activities are
also being monitored using conventional and non-conventional
feeds.
Indian spiny lobster,Panulirus ornatus
Water quality and disease management for lobster culture
Lobsters are very much susceptible to sudden changes in
Sea ranching of early life stages
Under this approach, the hatchery reared larvae/juveniles
will be sea ranched in protected bays and lagoons of Andaman
waters & Gulf of Mannar after the success in the larval
rearing studies. Subsequently, lobster population will be
studied by periodical monitoring of the survival and growth
rate in the sea ranched individuals and the most suitable
stage will also be identified in order to augment lobster
population.
Monitoring of pollution
The A&N Islands are industrially not much developed.
However, increasing shipping activities in Port Blair pose a
threat of oil pollution. International tanker route passes
south of Nicobar group of Islands. Nearly, 1500 tankers pass
through this area every year. In order to monitor the levels
of marine pollutants in and around Andaman seas, a marine
pollution monitoring unit under the Coastal Ocean Monitoring
and Prediction Systems (COMAPS) program of DOD was
established in 1994. At present the unit is monitoring
pollution in the sea off Port Blair through Central Electro-
chemical Research Institute, Chennai.
The monitoring of pollution in and around A&N is a
continuing activity. The studies are being augmented to
cover more frequent samplings and physical oceanography of
Andaman and Nicobar waters. The laboratory facilities will
be strengthened adequately to cover the future requirements
at Port Blair.
Consultancy Services have been provided for:
Hydrography surveys
Cooling Water Discharges
Dredge Spoil Disposal
Tranquility Studies for Harbor Design
Environmental Impact Assessments
Sedimentation and Coastline Evolution
Hydrology and Soil Erosion
Cooling Water Discharges: NIOT has provide consultancy
services to three thermal projects to locate the intake &
outfalls. Mathematical modeling for the thermal plumes and
sediment transport were the primary criteria used in this
design. Sample output.
Dredge Spoil Disposal: Suitable locations for disposal of
dredge spoil were identified using mathematical models &
environmental criteria. Sample output.
Environmental impact assessments have been conducted for
three projects. The EIA's include air, water, biological,
socio-economic and noise impacts. Risk assessment, EMP &
DMP's were presented to MOEF for environmental clearance.
Hydrology & Soil Erosion: Studies were conducted to estimate
water inflow, soil erosion for four reservoirs in India.
Techniques included field measurements, satelite imagery
interpretations, hydrologic & soil erosion simulations using
mathematical models. Recommendation to control erosion were
provided. A drainage study was also conducted in a coastal
area to establish the drainage scheme, finished plant level
& flooding in surrounding area was conducted.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
The collection of time series observation of oceanographic
and meteorological parameters over Indian Seas are necessary
to improve oceanographic services and predictive capability
of short term and long term climatic changes as well to
increase the understanding on ocean dynamics. Keeping this
in view Department of Ocean Development has established a
National Data Buoy Programme (NDBP) with an out lay of Rs.
37 Crores during 9th Year Plan, at National Institute of
Ocean Technology (NIOT) Chennai, with the following
objectives:
To collect met-ocean parameters in Indian Seas
To monitor the marine environment
To generate and supply data products
To improve the weather and ocean state prediction
To validate satellite data
Indigenisation of buoy technology
Considering the importance of above objectives, Norweigian
Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) is partially
funding the programme. DOD has entered into an agreement in
December 96 with OCEANOR, the Oceanographic company of
Norway to supply, install and maintain data buoys. NDBP is
manned by highly qualified and experienced professionals.
Along with OCEANOR representatives, NDBP has deployed 12
data buoys during Aug '97 to Feb '98 at a sea depth of 20 m
to 4500 m over the Exclusive Economic Zone of INDIA.
Programmes Envisaged for Future are:
Grouper, Epinephelus spp.
Orange top, Pseudochromiz flavivertex
Black-backed Anemone fish, Amphiprion frenatus
Red-girdled anemone fish, Amphiprion rubrocinctus
For undertaking these projects & objectives the under
mentioned facilities are available with NIOT.
Shrimp farm and laboratory at Port Blair (ANCOST)
Sea-front laboratory at Chennai
Re-circulatory wet lab facility at Chennai
R & D facility for marine biotechnological studies at Chennai
Farm for culture demonstration
In order to demonstrate to the local community, a farm area
of 15 hectare at Dollygunj, near Port-Blair has been created
in the year 1993 and it is functional since then as a field
demonstration centre for various activities related to
marine living resources enhancement. The facilities consist
of 12 numbers of 1 hectare ponds and a survey boat "Siganus"
and a well equipped shore laboratory having facilities for
culturing commercially important shellfishes, finfishes and
seaweeds.
Partial vies of ANCOST complex showing
adminstration block, store house, construction of new
laboratory building and working shed
The inlet suction pipe, pumphouse and growth of mangrove
plants adjacent to inlet pipelines
Wooden boat, OML Siganus and a fibre glass boat
Wet lab facility:
A sea-front laboratory is coming up at Tamilnadu Fisheries
Development Corporation campus at Neelangarai, Chennai. It
has various facilities for activities like spawning, larval
rearing and fattening of lobsters, and water quality
management and diagnosis of diseases at the time of culture
operation. This centre holds 6 Nos. of 5 tonne capacity
cement tanks and 45Nos. of 1 tonne capacity FRP tanks for
the fattening studies. A temperature controlled larval
rearing facility is also being created at this centre.
R&D Laboratory at NIOT, Narayanapuram:
A well equipped R&D unit has been established in 1999 at
NIOT, Narayanapuram, Chennai. This laboratory is having a
wide range of modern equipment's like Spectrophotometer,
Spectrophotoflourimeter, Fluorescence microscope, High speed
centrifuge, Lyophilizer, GC, HPLC, Gel system, PCR and DNA
sequencer in addition to a variety of minor equipment's.
This R&D division is fully capable of carrying out all R & D
activities related to nutrition, pathology, microbiology,
genetics and reproduction of all aquaculturally important
species.
A recirculatory sea water facility at NIOT, Narayanapuram:
A seawater recirculating system with a hold up volume of 5
m3 especially for lobster spawning and larval rearing is
being created at Narayanapuram campus of NIOT.
Other hardware and software facilities available with NIOT
are as follows:
Hardware
1.SUN ENTERPRISE 250 Server
2.INTERGRAPH Graphical Server
3.DEC ALPHA Work Stations
4.SGI INDY workstation
5.Pentium II & Pentium PCs
6.HP Scanjet IICX Scanner
7.Vidar A0 size scanner
8.HP A0 Ploters
9.HP Laser Printers
10.Colour Laser Printer Tektronics Phasor - 780z
11.Colour Inkjet Printers
12.Multimedia LCD Projector Epson 5500
Software
1.MATLAB VER 5.2 Windows/DEC OSF
2.MIKE 21
3.ANSYS VER 5.5
4.Finite Element Analysis Package (NISA)
5.Aldus Photo Styler
6.Microsoft Office 2000
7.Word Perfect
8.Corel Draw
9.WAVE MAP
10.ASAMAP(GIS)
11.WQMAP
12.CGWAVE Inhouse Software
13.Wave Reaction
14.Shoreline Evaluation
15.Wave Penetration into Harbour Network
Network
1.Access to ERNET, INTERNET & NICNET with E-mail, Remote
Login, Web acccess and Telnet
2.All the computer facilities are fully integrated into
the NIOT computer network and thence to the
IIT mainframe a RS6000 RISC workstation.
The Department of Ocean Development (DOD) which is
responsible for preservation and conservation of marine
environment in India,has establihed the ICMAM Project
Directorate on 2nd January 1998 in Chennai(Madras) for
developing capacity towards accomplishing the coastal and
ocean related objectives of UNCED. The Directorate is
implementing a World Bank funded component on capacity
building in 4 ICMAM related areas and developing
infrastructure for long-term training and R & D on this
subject.
The Agenda21 adopted in United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED 1992) emphasises the need
to adopt the concept of Integrated Coastal and Marine Area
Management (ICMAM) for sustainable utilisation of coastal
and marine resources and prevention of degradation of marine
environment. This is best achieved through integration of
activities prevalent in the land, coastal and marine areas.
Contact Information
Prof. M. Ravindran
The department of Ocean Development, Government of India in
coordination with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Madras has established the National Institute of Ocean
Technology (NIOT).
The institutes main aim is technology
development as well as technology promotion in mission mode
for scientific purposes in ocean development. NIOT is also
sponsoring projects through institutions like IIT's and
other R&D institutions in the country. NIOT has a commanding
presence in the fields of Deep sea technology, Deep sea
mining, Coastal zone management,Marine instrumentation, Wave
energy, Numerical modelling and simulation.
Schematic Diagram of 1 MW OTEC Plant
NIOT has 1 kW OTEC R&D facility at Narayanapuram New Campus
with full-fledged PC Based instrumentation and electrical
systems of Elasag Bailey's Freelance 2000.
Beacons
Products developed include a high-precision acoustic tide
gauge and a navigation beacon. A state-of-the art Test
Facility for the calibration and testing of underwater
systems and transducers is being established at the new NIOT
campus
To carry out an extensive performance evaluation of IUSS by
laboratory and sea trials with the known objects and in
places of known topography and profile.
Development and Research Agency (AN-SFDA) set up by the
Marine Products Exports Development Authority under Ministry
of Commerce, in a 15 hectare site at Dolligunj, near Port
Blair, at a cost of Rs.2.30 crore. During the trial culture,
a maximum shrimp production of 2 tones per hectare per crop
was achieved. For sustainable production, a production of 1
tonne/hectare/crop was envisaged through a modified
extensive method for reducing the cost of production and
increasing the revenue. Shrimp production upto 1-
1.4tonnes/ha/crop was achieved from different ponds at
different times and demonstrated to the local community over
45 families from the local islands have so far been trained
in shrimp culture.
Rejuvenation of Corals
In order
to rejuvenate corals in the area where large scale
destruction has taken place, a project was initiated during
1994-95 aiming to adopt scientific/engineering methods to
promote development of coral reefs around Port Blair. Under
this project, natural boulders were deployed in the affected
areas particularly in the Sisostris Bay at three sites for
showing their effectiveness in the settlement of corals.
Underwater observations carried out at the project site have
revealed that in one of three sites which is near the
natural coral bed, the growth of corals is appreciable.
Settlement of both hard and soft corals, sea anemone,
congregation of different species of coral reef fishes such
as scorpion fish, damsel fish etc., among other organism,
was noticed. Since colonization of corals on an artificial
reef is a long drawn process, methods to accelerate the
colonization are to be experimented and established.
water quality. During the fattening period in recirculatory
systems, critical water quality parameters have to be
closely followed. Since the lobster possess hardy
exoskeleton, the chances for the entry of pathogens are very
limited. But already there are some reports on the
occurrence of disease in lobsters. One of the major diseases
is moult death syndrome (MDS) which leads to mortality of
lobsters soon after moulting. The another important disease
is Gaffkemia caused by the bacteria Aerococcus viridans.
Protozoan infections have also been reported from the
lobsters cultured in indoor grow out systems. During the
fattening process when the frequency of moulting is
increased the chances of entry of pathogenic particles will
also increase due to the stress caused to the animals at the
time of moulting. As far as farming of any crustacean is
concerned the main problems to be encountered are the
control of diseases and the maintenance of water quality.
Therefore, water quality parameters such as salinity, pH,
temperature, dissolved oxygen, and the levels of nutrients
such as nitrite, nitrate, silicates,ammonia and phosphate
are periodically estimated. Apart from this, the occurrence
of protozoan ciliates and the haemocytes in healthy and
diseased individuals are also regularly monitored.
mravi@niot.ernet.in
Home Page : www.niot.ernet.in
National Institute of Ocean Technology
IC & SR Building,
IIT Campus
Chennai
Fax No : 91 -44-2353686 ,2300730
Telex : 041-8933 NIOT IN
