In May 2025, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has launched ‘Submarine Cable Project’ to improve long-term monitoring of the Indian Ocean.
- This project is backed by international scientific collaboration and is designed to enhance the understanding of oceanographic patterns, seismic movements, and tsunami risks in the region.
About Submarine Cable Project :
i.A 150-kilometre(km)-long submarine cable will be installed off the coast of Wandoor in the Andaman and Nicobar(A&N) Islands.
ii.The infrastructure will comprise two science nodes along the cable, equipped with oceanographic and geophysical sensors positioned at water depths ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 metres(m).
iii.The landing station will be established at an observatory in Wandoor, with a control centre for real-time data acquisition and monitoring at the institute headquarters located in Hyderabad.
About Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme(OTDP):
i.INCOIS plays a key role in three of the ten major projects under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO’s) Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP), an initiative led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
ii.The main objectives of ODTP Projects are:
- Investigate past and potential tsunami sources.
- Evaluate risks to infrastructure and marine resources.
- Enhance tsunami detection, monitoring, and early warning systems.
iii.One of the major efforts under this programme is the People-Centred Tsunami Early Warning Initiative (PCTWIN).
- Its objective is to strengthen public awareness, improve tsunami forecasting, and develop efficient communication systems.
- It also focuses on increasing disaster preparedness at the community level to reduce vulnerability during such natural disasters.
iv.Another programme is Tsunami Ready Odisha (TRO). This project enhances coastal community resilience by promoting awareness and preparedness to reduce the impact of tsunamis on lives, livelihoods, and property.
- In collaboration with Odisha State Disaster Management Agency (OSDMA), this effort supports the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme to enhance tsunami preparedness and risk reduction in Odisha’s coastal communities.
v.The INCOIS has developed comprehensive tsunami hazard maps and evacuation route plans to bolster community preparedness and response during emergencies.
- As of December 2024, 24 villages across six coastal districts of Odisha have been officially recognized as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by the IOC-UNESCO.
About Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):
Director – Dr. Balakrishnan Nair T.M
Headquarteres – Hyderabad, Telangana
Established – 1999
