Diamensions
SV “SAMUDDRIKA
With a five days endurance, an
service speed on full load of
17 knots and cruising speed of
5-6 knots is designed for all
kind of marine research and
survey. It is installed with three
engines; two 600 Kw and 250
Kw.
Twenty five meter vessel with
the draft of 1.7m is an ideal
platform for coastal and blue
water survey and research
Wet and dry lab with an area of
12 and 15 square meters are
available for operation and data
processing of CTD, ADCP,
Echo sunders, Side Scan Sonar,
Sub bottom profiler. Water
sample analysis and
refrigeration facilities are
available at the Wet Lab.
Mastered by a capable captain
provide accommodation for
twelve crews including six
scientists. On board of the SV
“SAMUDDRICA the master
and crew provide service for the
scientists 24 hours a day.
Available for national and
international universities,
research and development
institutes and industrialist.
Winches and Cranes
Almost all the scientific
equipment, not exceeding 1000
kg, could be safely employed by
the 3.5 m clear height and of 2.5
m outreach "A" frame.
Retractable or folding crane
with a holding capacity of
1000kg is reachable to all
working area of the deck.
Hydraulic winch with 500 kg
line pull winch with core
diameter 404.4 mm 2000 m
length of co-axial 66 meter per
minute (30 and 60 rpm)
Hydraulic winch with 1000 kg
line pull winch with core
diameter 323.9 mm 100 m
length of SS 24 meter per
minute (13rpm)
Hydraulic winch with 500 kg
line pull winch with core
diameter 355.6 mm 360 m
length of SS 31 meter per
minute (13 rpm)
.
Oceanographic Research Facilities
Conductivity Temperature
Depth (CTD) profiles
conductivity, temperature, water
pressure, oxygen and pH values.
Combined with a ring of Niskin
bottles (rosette) capable of
collecting water samples from
any depth up to 2000 m for
analysis.
Sea-Bird Electronics Model 11
Deck Unit with attached
computer.
Twelve bottle Rosette sampler
system (Sea-Bird Electronics 32
Carousel Water Sampler) with
an water capacity of six to
twelve liter shall be launched
for collection of water samples
for
salinity,
nutrient,
chlorophyll
a,
dissolved
oxygen, total suspended solids,
turbidity, specific conductance,
pH, etc analysis.
Rosette water sampler
Messenger operated Nansen
bottles of 1.25 liter capacity
attached
with
reversing
thermometers are capable of
collecting water samples for
calibration at pre determined
depth
The bottles can be closed in any
predetermined order, remotely
from the deck of the vessel
while the array is submerged at
the various sampling depths.
Salinity profiles - CTD
Acoustic Doppler Current
Profiler (ADCP) measures the
speed and direction of ocean
currents using the principle of
“Doppler shift”.
ADCP sensor head: Typical 4
beam ADCP sensor head. The
red circles denote the4
transducer faces.
The Hull mounted Workhorse
Mariner ADCP of "Teledyne
RD Instruments" has 4 acoustic
transducers that emit and
receive acoustical pulses from 4
different directions. Current
direction is computed by using
trigonometric relations to
convert the return signal from
the 4 transducers to ‘earth’
coordinates (north-south, eastwest and up-down).
ADCP measures the current at
many different depths
simultaneously, thus capable of
determining the speed and
direction of the current from the
surface to up to a depth of 35 m.
ADCP is widely used for water
circulation,
current
drift,
internal waves, surface friction
velocity and the shear stress
studies.
Geological and Geophsical Research Facilities
Sub bottom profiler
Sub-bottom profiling systems identify and measure various marine
sediment layers that exist below the sediment/water interface.
Anenergy source emits seismic signal vertically downwards into
the water and a receiver monitors the return signal that has been
reflected off the seafloor. The system uses this reflected energy to
provide information on sediment layers beneath the sedimentwater interface.
Uses
 Detect and measure the thickness of
dredged material deposits.
 Detect hard substrate that has been
covered by sedimentation.
 Identify buried objects (such as cables
and pipelines).
 Define the basement (or bedrock) layer
for potential confined aquatic disposal sites for dredged material.
Side Scan Sonar
Yellowfin side scan sonar with triple
frequencies has two data acquisition cables
with 30m and 150m length respectively.
Widely used for offshore sand deposit and
underwater
heritage
(shipwrecks)
investigation around the country.
Side scan images from east coast of Sri Lanka
Forward
SV “SAMUDDRICA”- Research and survey Platform
endurance, crew, size, instruments, labs, winches and cranes, cables, communication,
navigation
Oceanographic research facilities
Marine
Hydrographic research facilities
Water quality and pollution research facilities
Summary of scientific capabilities
Future investigation of marine environment
–SV “SAMUDDRICA”
Equipment
1. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) –RDI Instrument -100m.
2. Side Scan Sonar –Yelowfin – 150m
3. Multibeem Echosounder –Reson seabat 8101-300m.
4. Sub bottom profiler-INNOMAR- 300m Sub bottom 25m
5.RCM current meters – 03
6.Grab Sampler 24kg ,5kg.
7. Rossette Water sample with CTD – 3000m
8.Single beam Echo sounder – 300m.
9. Trawling winch – 400m.
10.A Frame- 1000kg.
11. Side crane – 500kg.
Accommodation – 6 scientist + 6 crew members for additional personal insurance to be
obtained .
Endurance -5days
Speed – 17 knots
Survey speed – 5-6 knots
Communication – Inmarsat – telephone broadband , fax, radar ----ect
Dry lab
Wet lab ,
Gab Sampler
This sampler is designed to collect an accurate representative sample of the sediment
bottom. The bite of the sampler should be deep enough so all depths are sampled equally.
The closing mechanism is required to completely close and hold the sample as well as
prevent wash-out during retrieval. Likewise, during descent the sampler should be
designed to minimize disturbance of the topmost sediment by the pressure wave as it is
lowered to the bottom.
The proven design of the super heavyweight grab sampler facilitates its use in all types of
bottom substrates, except hard-packed clays. A simple pin mechanism prevents
accidental closure of the dredge while in transit.
Plankton Net
Plankton Nets are a modification on the standard trawl used to
collect planktonicorganisms, of nearly any size, intact. Towed by a research vessel,
Plankton Nets have a long funnel shape that allows them to catch differently
sized plankton simply by changing the mesh size of the net. At the end of the funnel is a
collection cylinder called a cod-end. Phytoplankton can be collected with a Ruttner
sampler.
Primary productivity, Nutrients and Pollution
Primary productivity is a term used to describe the rate at which plants and other
photosynthetic organisms produce organic compounds in an ecosystem. There are two
aspects of primary productivity: Eutrophication is the “excess supply of nutrients leading
to increased biological productivity”
The nutrients found in seawater are essential to the survival of plant and marine life.
Phosphate, Nitrate- Nitrogen, Nitrite- Nitrogen and Ammonical- Nitrogen are the main
nutrients measured for analysis of sea water.
Pollution in the ocean directly affects ocean organisms and indirectly affects human
health and resources. Oil spills, toxic wastes, and dumping of other harmful materials are
all major sources of pollution in the ocean.
Samples of seawater for determining the above factors can be obtained with Ruttner
sampler, Nansen bottles and rosette sampler. Bottom grab sampler can be used for
collecting of sediments.
Research projects in Environmental Studies Division using the NARA ship –
Samudrika
The main activity of Environmental Studies Division to conduct research with
respect to the inland, coastal and marine aquatic environment. Studies involve
marine pollution surveys including land based pollution surveys, plankton sampling
to identify native plankton species assessment of health of the ocean, Plankton
distribution in accordance with water quality parameters, assessment of
agricultural input to the water quality of inland and coastal waters, accumulation of
heavy metals in aquatic fauna and flora etc;
The main objective of the above research projects are for sustainable development
and utilization of water resources to improve the health of the aquatic environment
and assist in the development of fisheries and aquatic resources.
During this year (2012) the division is conducting three main research projects to
monitoring the aquatic health to develop the fisheries and aquatic resources.
1. Emergency Studies (Assessment of Causes for Water pollution, Fish kill
incidents,oilspills & Algal blooms
2. Investigation on alien aquatic fauna & flora(phytoplankton & zooplankton) in
ballast waters and study their impacts on water quality with special
reference to economic & human health aspects
3. Assessment of land based pollution and coastal aquatic health - monitoring
of coastal water quality from Negombo-Bentota to improve the health of the
seas around western province)And, the next year projects will include assessment of health of the ocean –Coastal
Water quality monitoring programme which will be carried out in the ocean waters
from the continental shelf area to the off shore using different depths and distances.
This project is planning to carry out Colombo,Galle,Matara,Hambantota,Trincomalle
,Mannar and Batticoloa Districts.
Recent research findings revealed that fecal pollution of our coastal waters exceed
the standard limits /permissible levels specially the total and fecal coliform levels.
Fecal pollution is a major problem in some coastal waters due to the direct
discharge of untreated municipal sewage into land and waterways. Many highly
populated coastal low-lying areas have a shallow water table and a high
vulnerability for flooding. Inadequate drainage facilities and adhoc development in
these areas have further intensified the impacts of inappropriate sewage disposal in
low-lying flood prone coastal areas leading to severe fecal pollution in internal and
near shore waters.
Therefore one of future research activities of the division aims assessment of ocean
health with special reference to microbiological analysis of water quality
monitoring.
The other research projects of the division involve plankton sampling to identify
native plankton species and Plankton distribution in accordance with water quality
parameters. Plankton are the productive base of both marine and fresh water
ecosystems, providing food for large animals and indirectly for human, whose
fisheries depends on plankton. Zooplankton are used directly as food by fish or
mammals, but several links on the food chain usually have been fast before plankton
is available for human consumption.
The introduction of invasive marine species into new environments by ships’ ballast
waters attached to ships’ hulls and via other vectors has been identified as one of
the four greatest threats to the world’s oceans. Coastal port areas are home to a
wide variety of organisms that live in the water and bottom sediments.
Some of the species that do survive the trip are able to thrive in their new
environment. These bioinvaders can cause disruptions in the natural ecosystem,
economic troubles, and even carry human diseases. Many aquatic invasive species
can cause major economic impacts on human society.
Direct economic losses to society can be caused by aquatic bio-invasions in a
number of ways, including reductions in fisheries production (including collapse of
the fishery) due to competition, predation and/or displacement of the fishery
species by the invading species, and/or through habitat/environmental changes
caused by the invading species and impacts on aquaculture (including closure of
fish-farms), especially from introduced harmful algae blooms. And also Secondary
economic impacts from human health impacts of introduced pathogens and toxic
species, including increased monitoring, testing, diagnostic and treatment costs, and
loss of social productivity due to illness and even death in affected persons.
Therefore one of our projects aims identifying alien aquatic fauna & flora
(phytoplankton & zooplankton) in ballast waters and studies their impacts on water
quality with special reference to economic & human health aspects and also to
identify whether there is any impacts on fisheries and aquaculture to management
of fisheries and aquaculture.
Moorings and Profiling
The vessel Sudrika is equipped with three winches. One is with 2000m coaxial cable to
be used for CTD deployments and other two with 100m and 300m fibre optic cable used
for offshore coring and trawling respectively. The possible deployments and moorings
will be discussed as follows.
Deployment of Drifters and Argoprofilers
RV/ Samudrika have enough deck space, winch and A-Frame facilities for Drifter and
Argo float deployments. Currently, NARA engaging drifter deployments but new
research vessel will increase efficiency of the deployments. The diagrams show the
drifter and Argo deployments by NARA Oceanographic research team.
Fig: Drifter and Argo deployment in the offshore southern Sri Lanka
ADCP moorings
Samudrika can be utilised for shallow water Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)
moorings around the continental shelf of Sri Lanka. A-Frame belongs to vessel can be
used for this moorings. Some ADCP moorings are given in the diagrams.
Geological Exploration
Oceanography division is mainly conducting geological exploration for study surface
geological variations and placer mineral surveys for identifying economically potential
areas for mining. Some sampling devices and separation equipment’s are given in the
diagram.
Fig. Wet lab apparatus to be used in onboard sample collection and analysis
Around the world, fisheries scientists are increasingly recognizing ecosystems as natural
capital assets. Scientific understanding of ecosystem production function is improving
rapidly in many parts of the world but in Sri Lanka it remains a due to limitation of
research facilities especially a research vessel. Even though, seas around Sri Lanka have
unique geographical and hydrological characteristics to support various fisheries, the
distribution, potential resources, stock assessments and catch targets are not properly
identified in many fisheries. The research vessel “Sagarika” will be a unique platform to
fisheries scientists to find out the information gap by carrying out their research in the
ocean. These information will lead to explore new resources as well as management and
conservation of new resources.
A marine research can be used in mainly
1. To understand physical and chemical oceanographic and hydrological conditions
2. To investigate the stock size, abundance, distribution, size of maturity, feeding habits
etc of economically and ecologically important marine resources
3. To assess potential fishery resources
There are several methods of experimental fishing can be used in research vessels.
Trawling
Trawling is one of the most common methods of sampling bottom or pelagic resources in
the sea. Trawling involves towing one or more trawl nets behind a boat or in between two
boats, either through the water column or along the ocean’s floor. Trawl nets are usually
shaped like a cone or funnel with a wide opening to catch fish or crustaceans and a
narrow closed end called a cod-end. Trawls can be used in water of various depths down
to around 3000m, and nets differ by their mesh size.
i. Mid water trawl
Midwater trawls can be used to sample in
the water column and are used to catch a
variety of pelagic fish species. Sometimes,
may use paired trawls, where two boats
pull one net. Midwater trawl nets may
incorporate acoustic technology to tell the
scientists the position of the net in the
water column, the opening/spread of the net
and the volume of fish entering the net.
Additional instruments on the net can
record the speed at which the net is
traveling. Both demersal and midwater
trawls use otterboards to keep the mouth of
the net open.
ii. Demersal Trawl
Demersal trawls are used to sample fish,
prawns or others that live on the bottom of
the ocean. Trawlers targeting finfish often
use one net (this is called a single trawl) or
two nets (twin trawl), whereas prawn
trawlers may use a twin-rig (towing two
nets) or quad-rig (towing four nets).
Squid Jig
Squid jigging can be carried out using
either mechanically powered or hand
operated
jigs.
Overhead
lights
illuminate the water and attract the
squid which gather in the shaded area
under the boat. Squid are caught using
barbless lures on fishing lines which are
jigged up and down in the water. Using
barbless lures means that as the lures
are recovered over the end rollers, the
squid fall off into the boat.
Longlines
Longlines are set horizontally either on the ocean floor (demersal longlines) or near the
surface of the water (pelagic longlines). Longlines can be tens of kilometres long and
carry thousands of hooks. Baited hooks are attached to the longline by short lines called
snoods that hang off the mainline.
Pelagic longlines are set near the
surface or middle of the water column.
Longlines can be many kilometres
long and carry thousands of hooks.
Pelagic longlines are not anchored and
are set to drift near the surface of the
ocean with a radio beacon attached so
that the vessel can track them to haul
in the catch. Pelagic longlines are
Figure: Longline operations at a research vessel
Plankton Research
Other than the research on fish, plankton studies are often carried out using research
vessels. These tiny organisms are the food sources of many economically important
species. Similarly, the research can be carried out to examine the abundance and
distribution of fish eggs and larvae in the ocean.
Figure: Sampling of zooplankton using a plankton net and a view of plankton sample
under a microscope