NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY
The focus of the Institute now in its 35th year continues to be the development of a coherent
organisation aimed at excellence in ocean research and service to industries.
In the first two decades of its establishment, much effort went into consolidating research
capabilities and in gaining basic understanding of the processes in the seas around us.
The last few years we have been capitalizing our knowledge into much needed revenue by offering
a variety of services to coastal industries. To keep pace with the emerging
priorities on economy, science & technology and conservation of environment, we redefined our mission
and goals. Nevertheless, research in open & coastal waters remains the
core of the Institute's activities.
Genesis
During the 16-17th centuries there have been many maritime activities in the Indian Ocean
region but most of them were for adventuring and trade. Due to this the Indian Ocean
remained the least explored scientifically. Ocean studies received impetus only after India's independence with the
launching of the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) during 1962-65.This expedition co-ordinated by the
international agencies like UNESCO & SCOR involved participation of 20 countries with 40 oceanographic research
vessels. The expedition led to the generation of huge amount of data and unraveled many features of the Indian Ocean.
The expedition came to an end in 1966. The government of India then felt the need for an
establishment of an organization to continue the ocean research. Thus the National Institute
of Oceanography was formed in January 1966 under the aegis of the Council of Scientific &
Industrial Research. ( For more : Understanding the Indian Ocean - Perspectives on
Oceanography 1998, by T.S.S.Rao and Ray C. Griffiths. UNESCO,ISBN 92 - 3- 103448-0)
MANDATE
To develop a knowledge-base relating to physical, chemical, biological, geophysical,
engineering and pollution aspects of the seas around India
To build up competence for exploiting the sea resources for the benefit of the country
To develop self-sufficiency in marine instrumentation
To extend co-operation to all R&D organizations and academic institutions involved in the
study of marine sciences, and cater to information needs of the user community
To foster national and international co-operation in various fields of oceanography in order to
facilitate the exploration and exploitation of the sea
To provide support to various industries, government and non
government organizations through consultancy, contract research, training, etc.
MAJOR R&D PROGRAMMES
The major R&D programmes of NIO include: International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme,
surveys for poly metallic nodules, oceanographic studies of the Antarctic waters,
island development programme, coastal zone management, resources and parameters mapping of
the EEZ of India, air- sea interaction studies, drugs from the sea, marine
biotechnology, befouling and corrosion studies, technologies for rural development, development of marine
instruments, and development of acoustic and remote sensing techniques
for monitoring the oceans.
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
NIO has carried out physical, chemical, biological, geological and geophysical studies of the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India and other areas in the Indian Ocean
which have led to understanding of the ocean processes and the resources hitherto unknown.
The institute has carried out surveys of marine living resources and developed new culture techniques with a
view to increasing the seafood production. A technique for culture of green mussels on ropes from floating rafts has
been successfully developed and the know-how has been transferred to fish farmers of Goa. A technique for the
culture of Artemia has been perfected and commercialized.
Culture technique for commercially important marine
organisms like fin fish in floating cages has been developed.
A survey by the institute of the shallow offshore areas of Konkan coast has indicated ilmenite
deposits of about 12.5 million tonnes. Also, bathymetric, seidmentological,
geochemical, geomorphological and magnetic anomaly maps for major portion of the Indian continental shelf
have been prepared.
The institute has carried out survey for poly metallic nodules in an area of about 4 million sq.
km in the Central Indian Ocean. This work has resulted in registration of
India as the first 'Pioneer Investor' country in the world under UN and getting allocation of an area of 1,,50,0000
sq. km for developing a mining site.
Sedimentation in harbors and adjacent areas has been studied to find ways to tackle the problem of siltation. Dynamics
of the seasonally reversing coastal circulation has been
studied in detail.
Equipment for scanning the ocean interior and numerical
acoustic models have been developed and soundspeed structure
reconstructed. The acoustic field from Antarctic to the
Central Arabian Sea at 74 degree E has been prepared. A
methodology for operation of an ocean acoustic topographic
system has also been developed.
A few models covering land-sea and air-sea interactions and
ocean dynamics have been developed to understand variability
of monsoon. Studies on the anticipated sea level rise due
to Greenhouse Effect have revealed that Lakshadweep
Archipeiago is most vulnerable to inundation.
More than 500 species of marine flora and fauna have been
studied for antivirul, anti fungal and CNS depressant
activities. A new toxic sapogenin has been isolated from
sea cucumber.
A method has been developed for the preparation of
Tachypleus armoebocyte Iysate (TAL), a testing agent for
microbial endotoxins, from the blood of horse-shoe crab
Tachypleus gigas without sacrificing the animal. TAL is
used in drugs, pharmaceutical and food industry.
A chemical model of the Arabian Sea has been developed using
thermodynamic data of the major and minor components of sea
water. Regular monitoring of the Indian sea with regard to
pollution by heavy metals, pesticides, hydrocarbons, etc,
has helped assess the health of our seas.
Three seamount chains, one multipeaked with distinct craters
in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, the second 2.5 km high in
the easter Arabian Sea named after Indian Research Vessel
'Sagar Kanya' and the third at about 455 km west southwest
of Bombay named as Raman Seamount in honor of Sir C.V.
Raman, the great Indian scientist, have been identified.
NIO was the lead organization in organizing the First Indian
Scientific Expedition to Antarctica and has participated
actively in the subsequent expeditions.
An Ocean Remote Sensing Centre has been set up at NIO to
develop remote sensing techniques for ocean studies.
Various ocean features have been studied and mapping of
mangrove vegetation and geomorphological studies using
remote sensing technique have been carried out.
NIO has released the technical know-how for several marine
instruments like electronic bathythermograph, wind recorder,
automatic weather station and direct reading current meter
to NRDC.
A self-recording and transmitting tide gauge has also been
developed and commercialized. Other instruments developed
are moored data buoys, drifting buoys and inwater spectral
radiometer.
MAJOR TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFERRED
Technique for culture of green mussels on ropes using wooden
rafts
Technique for commercial culture of Artemia, a live feed for
shrimps
Technique for culture of fin fishes in floating cages
Use of horse-shoe crab blood without sacrificing the animal,
for preparation of TAL, by transfusion of amoebocyte on recurring basis
Microbial culture for biopulping, biobleaching and effluent
treatment in papaer industry
Pollution monitoring using bioluminiscent bacteria
Electronic tide gauge, electronic bathythermograph, wind
recorder, automatic weather
station and direct reading current meter
MAIN FACILITIES
Research vessels Gaveshani and Sagar Kanya (of DOD) which
are well equipped for oceanographic research throughout the
year.
Sagar Kanya has additional facility of mapping the sea
bottom and providing the real time graphic displays as well
as bathymetric chart
Well-equipped modern laboratories which can cater to the
needs of all aspects of oceanography under study
Indian National Oceanographic Data Centre (INODC) for
acquiring, processing and disseminating oceanographic data
pertaining to the Indian seas
A pair of advanced fourth generation Norsk Data computers
A library with a good holding of books, journals and
technical reports, and computerized literature search
facility (ASFA, CD-ROM)
A remote sensing centre with DIP image processing system
Workshop, printing, photography and drawing units
A Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Centre
Marine Biotechnology Information Centre with a database on
marine life of India
SERVICES OFFERED
The institute undertakes sponsored projects and offers
consultancy on; coastal zone development, submarine
pipeline, seabed surveys and marine outfalls, environmental
impact assessment and ocean engineering, pollution control
and waste disposal in the sea, port and harbour development
design and development of marine instruments, resource
surveys, marine biotechnology, marine archaelogy, and any
other problems connected with the sea.
NIO provides training in exploration of the sea resources,
shipboard training in the collection and processing of
oceanographic data and facilities and divers for underwater
exploration.
NIO provides library services including ASFA CD-ROM
literature search, services for dissemination of
oceanographic data, multiuser search facility on UNIX
platform for information on marine biotechnology and marine
science and technology information services.
REGIONAL CENTRES
NIO Regional Centre
Vidyaniketan Annex Building
House No. 41/591-B
Providence Road
Ernakulam, Cochin 682 018
Telegram: OCEANOLOGY,
ERNAKULAM
Telephones: (091)484-360306 & 351814
Telex: 885-6399 NIO IN
NIO Regional Centre
Sea Shell Building
Seven Bungalows
Versova, Bombay 400 061
Telegram: OCEANOLOGY, BOMBAY
Telephones: (091)22-6263773 & 6264807
Telex: 011-78419 NIOB IN
NIO Regional Centre
176, Lawsons Bay Colony
Visakhapatnam - 530 017
Telegram: OSTECHLAB,
VISAKHAPTNAM
Telephone: (091)891-554180
Telex: 495-580 NIOW IN
