October 3, 2024, 5:20 pm By Sharon Tracy Gomes Public Archive General
In line with the contract signed between Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India, and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of polymetallic sulphides in the Central and Southwest Indian ridges, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), Goa organized a two-day training session from 30th September to 01st October, 2024, as a part of training program organized by MoES through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). Participants from developing nations, including Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Jamaica, attended the program. Representatives from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) also participated in the program.
The training program included lectures, discussions, and demonstrations of the institute's high-end facilities. In his welcome address, Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh, Director of CSIR-NIO, emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral partnerships with littoral nations to better understand the Indian Ocean region. He also highlighted the increasing demand for metals from the deep sea due to diminishing terrestrial deposits, especially those of commercial interest from unexplored unique ecosystems on the ocean floor.
The program was coordinated by Dr. Manguesh Uttam Gauns, Senior Principal Scientist & Head of the Biological Oceanography Division, and Dr. Yatheesh Vadakkeyakath, Principal Scientist of Geological Oceanography Division.



