Matsya-6000 Submersible Passes Wet Test, 500m Trial By 2025

India’s fourth-generation deep-ocean submersible, Matsya-6000, has successfully completed wet testing at Kattupalli Port, marking a significant step in the country’s Samudrayan Project under the Deep Ocean Mission. Developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the submersible is designed to carry three people inside its 2.1-metre spherical hull and will undergo a 500-metre depth demonstration by the end of 2025.

Matsya-6000 features advanced subsystems, including a main ballast system for diving, thrusters for multi-directional movement, a battery bank for power, and syntactic foam for buoyancy. It is also equipped with a sophisticated power distribution network, cutting-edge control systems, and high-precision underwater navigation devices. Communication systems include an acoustic modem, an underwater telephone, and GPS integration for surface tracking.

The wet tests, conducted between 27 January and 12 February 2025, assessed critical parameters such as power and control networks, flotation and stability, human safety systems, and navigation capabilities. Eight dives were completed, including five unmanned and three manned dives, with the latter qualifying the life support systems. While communication challenges arose due to limited harbour depth, further testing at greater depths is planned to ensure reliability.

With the successful harbour tests, Matsya-6000 is now on course for deeper trials, paving the way for India’s advancement in deep-sea exploration.