Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras inaugurated a state-of-the-art Circulating Water Tunnel facility at its ‘Discovery’ satellite campus in Thaiyur (near Chennai), marking a major step in strengthening India’s ocean engineering research ecosystem.
- Funded with ₹4.5 crore CSR support from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (Navratna PSU)
- The facility is now fully operational
Advanced Ocean Engineering Research Facility
- Features a stable, uniform-flow test section for precise hydrodynamic experiments
- Enables advanced investigations involving:
- Ship models
- Propellers
- Bluff bodies
Research Applications
- Marine vehicles
- Offshore systems
- Underwater structures
- Fluid dynamics
Enhances both research capabilities and practical training in the Department of Ocean Engineering
Way Forward
IIT Madras and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders are exploring:
- Establishment of a HYDRA Centre with a 500-metre towing tank
- Research on indigenous high-efficiency subzero refrigeration systems for naval submarines
Key Significance
- Strengthens indigenous technological capabilities in ocean engineering
- Supports experimental and applied research for maritime innovation
- Provides advanced training opportunities for students and researchers
- Contributes to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the maritime and defence sectors
- Highlights the importance of industry-academia collaboration, especially with defence PSUs
About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
- One of India’s leading warship-building shipyards
- Has built:
- 808 vessels
- Including 33 warships and 8 submarines
- Expertise ranges from advanced destroyers to missile boats and offshore platforms