01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-01-0241 |
| Title of Abstract | INCOIS operational services to the exploratory Deep Sea Mining activities of NIOT |
| Authors | K. Srinivas*, T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, M. Nagaraja Kumar, Sivaiah Borra, Ajay Kumar Bandela, Vedula Chandra Sekhar |
| Organisation | INCOIS |
| Address | INCOIS Hyderabad, Telangana, India Pincode: 500090 E-mail: srinivaskantha@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | NIOT (MoES) plans exploratory mining operations in 6000m water depth for poly-metallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. The entire system consisting of the ship, riser, and mining machine would experience environmental loads caused by wind and wave conditions. The mining machine weighs around 10 tons and takes around 4 hours for descent to seabed. A detailed analyses of the three hourly wind and wave data (2009-2023) based on numerical models, is presented for the present deep sea test mining location (13.5 deg. S and 75.5 deg. E). The location is far away from the coast, the nearest port being Port Mathurin (Mauritius), located about 1460 kms away. It is therefore very essential to understand the seasonal variability of these parameters, for safe and efficient operations. India is allotted 75,000 sq. km. area with an estimated 380 MMT of nodules. Detailed studies on the wind and wave data for this location is essential for a better understanding of their seasonal variabilities, for operational planning of the mining operations. INCOIS (MoES) has been providing short term forecasts (three days ahead) and hindcast data (inter-annual) for these parameters, from numerical models. Further, INCOIS is also providing along the route sea state forecasts for the ships sailing from the mainland ports to this location for ensuring a safe voyage. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | INCOIS, Operational Services, Safe Weather Window, Deep Sea Mining |
| For Awards | no |