India sends first unmanned vehicle to ocean bed
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India has sent its first remotely operated unmanned submersible to the central Indian Ocean bed in an attempt to explore and tap the rich mineral wealth in the basin, local media quoted an official as saying on Sunday.
The country's National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has developed the Remotely Operable Vehicle (ROV) in collaboration with the Russia-based Experimental Design Bureau of Oceanological Engineering.
"This is a huge feat for India. It means that we are one of the very few nations with this capability apart from United States, France, Japan, Russia and possibly China," NIOT director Atmanand told the media.
The Indian ROV is operational at the site, at a water depth of nearly 6,000 meters, allocated to the country by the International Sea Bed Authority of United Nations.
"As of now, the ROV has been taking photographs and core samples from the designated area. It would be next made operational in the Krishna-Godavari basin where gas hydrates exist under the sea bed. However it will be used in that region after a detailed survey," he added.
