Operational Programs > Ocean Observation Systems > Performance
Indigenised buoy:
In order to bring down the cost involved in importing the buoy system, the mechanical components are fully indigenised and a 2.2m data buoy has been designed and fabricated with FRP outer skin filled with polyurethane foam.  The improved buoy design has advanced features like embedded tamper proof solar panels, hood, and other tamper proof locking features and also eased transporting it through a container.
Profile & Characteristics of the buoy:
Total displacement of the buoy is 3100 kg with reserve buoyancy of 2000 kg. Weight 700 kg Offshore trough: observations and modeling Atmospheric and marine boundary layer processes Land-Air-Sea interaction processes during heavy rainfall events 20 w x 4 no. solar panels ensure constant recharging of the batteries.
In-House Technology Development
The exceedingly imperative chore is the development of Central Processing Unit (CPU) for data acquisition and processing.
Data communication through Indian Satellite INSAT has been jointly developed by NIOT and Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.
NDBP has evolved a modus operandi for handshaking between the CPU and INSAT Transceiver, miniaturizing the complete buoy electronics to reduce the size of the buoy for easy transportation and handling.
The Buoy Hull, Instrument cylinder, Mechanical components and Power System etc., have been developed through in-house knowledge input.
Buoy Hull Instrument Cylinder Beacon Lamp Keel Frame
Mechanical Hardware Components
Ship Acquisition:
M/s. Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Visakhapatnam has been awarded with the order for construction of Buoy Tender Cum Research Vessel to meet the maintenance of increased buoy network.  The  design and building specification for the vessel has been prepared by National Ship Design and Research Centre (NSDRC),  Visakhapatnam. HSL has already commenced the construction of the vessel “Sagar Manjusha”.
PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS Length over all                        :  60.00 m Breadth                                   :  11.00 m Depth upto Main Deck  :  05.00 m Draft                                        :  03.20 m Speed (Guaranteed)               :  11.5 Knots @ 90% MCR Complements Crew:  18      Scientist :  11 Buoy Handling Facility:  2 Nos. articulated electro-hydraulic cranes each having 5 T SWL with an out reach of 8 m.  1 No. ‘A’ frame to lift 12 tones of load Propulsion        :  Twin Screw FPP Station Keeping   :  Two Steerable water jet propulsion
Building of Sagar Manjusha in stages
The vessel was successfully launched on November 3, 2005 and it commenced operations by July 2006.
Conferences & Workshops:
Regional Workshop: Successfully conducted Regional Workshop on 'Establishing a Cooperative Mechanism for Protection of Met-ocean Data and Tsunami Buoys in the Northern Indian Ocean Region' organized by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and the Bay of Bengal Programme - Inter Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) at NIOT Campus, Chennai from 6-7 May 2011. A total of 84 delegates representing 53 Organization participated in the Regional Workshop. The delegates included Government representatives from eight countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal viz., Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand; Inter-Governmental Organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization- Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) and South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP); Industry representative from USA, UK, Norway and India; and NGOs and Civil Society Organizations. The Indian delegation included senior officials from the coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Union Territory of Puducherry; Indian Coast Guard, Navy; National Disaster Management Authority; Ministry of Earth Sciences; and Ministry of Agriculture.
Outcome/Follow up of the Workshop:
The important outcome of this workshop is this issue is taken up in the highest level of the Government and was addressed during the recent National Disaster Management Authority Meeting in New Delhi and Director NIOT and INCOIS were requested to present their case which was attended by Secretaries of various ministries including Ministry of Earth Sciences, Home Affairs, Fisheries, Defence & Communications etc., The matter was taken up to PMO office. One of the participant from South Indian Federation of Fisherman Societies has inserted a message about 'Safeguard the Buoys' in www.awareinfo.org. The Andhra Pradesh Mechanised Fishing Boat Operation Association had conducted a meeting on 14.05.2011 among the Fishing Boat Owners & Fishing Leaders and the message on safeguarding the Buoys was distributed among the members and informed. News Paper clippings are attached below. The Myanmar Fisheries Federation, Government of Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Department of Fisheries had agreed: 1. To duplicate the multilingual buoy safeguard poster distributed during the workshop by NIOT with main heading in Burmese to remote areas near the sea. 2. And also to apply with the DG(DOF) to put a clause in the MOU with foreign fishing fleet to take care of the Tsunami Buoys and not to vandalise them. Posters & Multilingual leaflets on Buoy safety have been sent to all the Major Indian Ports by NIOT. One of the participants Mr H D P, Senior Radio Officer, Dept of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources had conducted twice awareness program at Kalmunai Radio Communication Centre East coast ofSri Lanka. Posters were sent to Dept. of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Sri Lanka for more distribution. Posters were also displayed in some fisheries harbors in down south like Hambantota, Galle. Radio programmes weekly over the ?Sayura? radio broadcasting service were conducted by him especially for fisher community and awareness programmesIsland wide about the importance of buoys. The workshop details was published in the 4th Occasional June 2011-IOC Newsletter (http://iocperth.org/IOCPerth/images/stories/Newsletter4web.pdf). The report on the workshop was also uploaded in the DBCP website  Click to view report International committee constituted by DBCP on vandalism to be headed by NIOT.
Action Plans of the Workshop
The workshop also identified the following tiers of action to tackle the vandalism problem:
Ocean buoy network design and operating practice Technical innovations and improvements to protect data buoys Administrative measures to deter vandalism, including regional and international cooperation Reaching the fishermen (communications and engagement)
Armex
Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX) is the second observational campaign under Indian Climate Research Programme (ICRP), planned for implementation in two phases, coordinated by the Earth System Science Division (ESSD), Department of Science and Technology (DST).   The objectives of ARMEX are to study the Arabian Sea convection associated with intense rainfall events on the west coast of India, also evolution, maintenance and the collapse of the Arabian Sea warm pool and pre-onset phases of the monsoon. The ARMEX Phase‑I observational programme was carried out during June to August 2002, and ARMEX Phase‑II warm pool experiments were carried out during March to June 2003. About 25 national institutions  & organizations have participated in the recently concluded ARMEX observational campaigns. Routine as well as special observational data over land, ocean and upper air were collected using ships, data buoys, drifting buoys, ARGO floats, aircraft, radars, satellite and conventional meteorological observatories and automatic weather stations located along the west coast and within 200 km width of the coast covering both land and ocean. The Project Advisory and Monitoring Committee (PAMC) on Weather and Climate Research Programme constituted under ICRP by DST expressed their desire to hold a workshop on ARMEX at National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai during 22nd and 23rd December 2003.  NIOT has gladly accepted DST request and hosted the workshop inviting scientists, representatives from various national institutes, Government institutions and Universities those who are all participated in the ARMEX programme.   Apart from them, many academic, scientific, technical and operational meteorologists and oceanographers joined together in this national endeavor have also been invited to submit their initial findings & results and share their experience & knowledge gained over the ARMEX programme.
Workshop Themes
Workshop focused on the following aspects:
Planning and review of implementation of ARMEX. Land, ocean and space based datasets Offshore trough: observations and modeling Atmospheric and marine boundary layer processes Land-Air-Sea interaction processes during heavy rainfall events Atmospheric dynamics associated with heavy rainfall events Buoy observations and XBT surveys associated with Warm pool Oceanographic processes associated with Warm pool dynamics Ocean-Atmospheric interaction and monsoon onset processes Aerosols, clouds and atmospheric electricity Meso-scale modelling of the land-ocean-atmospheric events Innovative Technologies used for the collection of data.
The Venue & Workshop Inauguration
The workshop was held at “Sagar Sangamam”, Conference Complex, NIOT, Chennai.  The conference center has been specifically designed to be a self-contained unit with an Auditorium having the capacity to accommodate 200 persons, 3 other halls to accommodate parallel sessions and a buffet hall.
The Venue of the Workshop “Sagar Sangamam”, Conference Centre, NIOT
Front View Inside View
Dignitaries,Guests on dais Dr.Harsh Gupta, Secretary, DOD, is lighting the Kuthuvilakku     Welcome Address by  Prof.Ravindran, Director, NIOT Inaugural Address by Dr. Harsh Gupta, Sect., DOD
The workshop has been inaugurated by Dr. Harsh K. Gupta, Secretary, Department of Ocean Development on 22nd December 2003.  It has been followed by a keynote address by Dr. R.R Kelkar, DG, IMD and Dr. Acharya, Advisor, DST.  Shri. Sikka, Chairman, Project Advisory & Monitoring Committee on Weather & Climate Research Programme released the Weather summary report.  Prof. M. Ravindran, Director, NIOT and Shri. K. Premkumar, Programme Director, NDBP, delivered the Welcome Address and Vote of Thanks respectively.
Technical Activities
The scientists, representatives from various National institutes, Government institutions has participated and presented their observations and findings under 8 technical sessions over 2 days of workshop. The participants list is placed in Annexure B.  A total of 81 papers have been presented out of which 41 were oral presentations and 40 were poster presentations. Each technical session started with Lead Talk on the session theme by eminent professors technologists/scientists /researchers. Following eminent speakers chaired the technical session and gave the lead talk on the workshop: At the end of the technical session on 22nd Dec 2003, there has been a felicitation to Dr.R.R.Kelkar, DG, IMD, who was retiring from his service.  The abstract volume of the papers presented has been made and the same has been given to participants.  As a token of appreciation of significant contributions of the scientists, a memento has been designed exclusively and got it made for presenting to every participants.  The participants have been accommodated in various government Guesthouses and ensured their comfort for the participation in ARMEX workshop.
National Scientists gathered at Workshop Session Dedicated Poster Session
Feedback from Delegates/Participants
“I write to thank you for organizing the workshop in grand style.  It was highly successful because of the dedicated efforts put in by you and the immense support which you got from your team.  Prof. Ravindran is to be praised for the leadership…I admire the efforts of all concerned in organizing the event.”
	-Shri. Sikka, Chairman, Project Advisory and Monitoring Committee on Weather & Climate
“The key to the success of the workshop was the manner in which it was organized.  Despite the large number of outstation participants, accommodation and transportation were efficiently handled.  Time schedule were well planned and strictly adhered to.  Food quality was excellent…”
- Prof. G S Bhat, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
“Congratulations on successful conducting of ARMEX WORSHOP at NIOT during 22-23 Dec. This workshop has brought all the pioneer scientists together at one platform to address an important scientific issue which has also highlighted the  support of NIOT/DOD extended to this programme.”
- Dr. Somasundar, Department of Ocean Development
“Thank you and your team for the wonderful hospitality and perfect arrangements at the ARMEX workshop”
- Dr. Debasis Sengupta, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
“…appreciation for excellent organization and conduct of the technical deliberations during the workshop.  I thank you and your team members on the nice hospitality at NIOT during the conference.”
- Dr.CVK Prasada Rao, Scientist F, Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory, Kochi
Data Buoy Cooperation Panel - DBCP
The Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) is an official joint body of the World Meteorological Organisation and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Its mission is to increase the quantity and quality of ocean and atmospheric data. The annual meeting of DBCP is held once in a year in locations either in Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere alternatively
Principal objectives of the DBCP are
Review and analyse requirements for buoy data Co-ordinate and facilitate deployment programmes to meet requirements Initiate and support action groups Improve quantity and quality of buoy data distributed onto the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) Information exchange and technology development Liaison with relevant bodies and programmes
The Panel members are representatives of all members of WMO or member States of IOC, which are interested in participating in its activities (presently Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA).
The current DBCP Action Groups are                  EGOS - European Group on Ocean Stations IABP - International Arctic Buoy Programme IPAB - International Programmed for Antarctic Buoys ISABP - International South Atlantic Buoy Programme IBPIO - International Buoy Programme for Indian Ocean and GDP - Global Drifter Programme TAO  - Tropical Atmosphere Ocean and TAO array Implementation Panel (TIP)
The most important task of the DBCP is to ensure a satisfactory coordination at the international level of the Drifting and Moored Buoy programs. It is indeed expected from such an action, a substantial increase of the number of buoys deployed on the global ocean. This would in turn increase the amount of good quality oceanic and atmospheric data available for the international community. The particular needs of oceanographic research for deferred time quality data and of operational meteorology for real time data (through the Global Telecommunication System, GTS) are stressed. The Panel will therefore encourage the formation of Action Groups and the exchange of information concerning data buoys between the different bodies or agencies involved.
DBCP Chairs:
Chairman :Mr. David Meldrum (UK) Vice Chairman :Ms. Horton Elizabeth (USA) for North America   :Mr. Louis Vermaak (South Africa) for Southern Hemisphere   : Mr. Premkumar(India) for Asia Technical Coordinator : Mr. Etinnie Charpentier (France)
During the meetings, the participants discuss about the program implementation, administration and hold technical and scientific workshop. With the approval of Department of Ocean Development, NIOT made efforts for hosting one of the DBCP sessions as well the meeting of Joint Tariff Agreement. The annual meetings of DBCP & JTA for the year 2004 had been earmarked to India. Incidentally, the two action groups under DBCP namely ‘International Buoy Programme for the Indian Ocean’ (IBPIO) and ‘North Pacific Data Buoy Advisory Panel’ (NPDBAP) had requested NIOT to accommodate their sessions just before the DBCP which had also been organised. Thus, NIOT had the unique opportunity to host the sessions/meetings of IBPIO, NPDBAP, DBCP and JTA.
Participants
Nearly 46 participants around the globe have participated for the above sessions and meeting.
Participants of the DBCP technical session
Report on sessions and meetings:
International Buoy Programme of Indian Ocean (IBPIO) was established as one of the action group in 1997. The 7th session meeting was held at MGM Beach Resort on 15th October 2004 under the Chairmanship of Mr.Gream Ball common wealth of Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
North Pacific Data Buoy Programme Advisory Panel (NPDBAP) : The action group of NPDBAP has been admitted into DBCP and its first meeting was held at Victoria on June 5th and 6th 2002. Its present members are Canada, People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the United States of America. Its objective is to maintain an observational data buoy program north of 30˚ N in the North Pacific Ocean and marginal seas providing meteorological and oceanographic data for operational and / or research purposes to the global community. As we are not partner in the programme, we have not participated in the meeting held on 17th October 2004 AM. But arrangements have been made at MGM Beach Resort to convene the meeting. On 17th October 2004: An Ice breaking event has been organised in the evening and the dinner was hosted at the MGM Beach Resort to the DBCP participants. The event has enabled the NIOT senior officials to get introduced with the DBCP participants. As part of the ice breaking event, some fun games have been arranged and made every one to feel the closeness to each other at the end of the event. On 18th October 2004: The Technical and Scientific Workshop as part of DBCP was inaugurated in NIOT’s Sagar Sangamam conference centre. The workshop was organised from 18th October 2004 till 1 p.m. of 19th October 2004. Mr.K.PremKumar, PD, NDBP provided the welcome address, Dr.S.Kathiroli, Director, NIOT provided the over view of the NIOT activities and welcomed the participants. Mr.Kenneth Jarrot, Chairman, Scientific and Technical Workshop, Head, Observation Systems Section, Australian Bureau of Meteorology provided an overview of the workshop, Dr.David Meldrum, Chairman, Data Buoy Cooperation Panel, Leader Technology Development, SAMS Dunstaffnage Marine Lab, U.K. inaugurated the workshop and Ms.Borum Lee, Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO extended vote of thanks.
The Scientific and Technical Workshop provided an excellent opportunity to discuss scientific and technical issues related to data buoys in the light of applications of buoy data. Participants in the workshop included representatives of meteorological agencies, oceanographic institutes, scientists, data telecommunication providers and manufacturers. Contacts, exchange of information, assistance was facilitated during the intersessional period because people came to know each other.
During the Scientific and Technical Workshop, 20 papers were presented which represented broad global efforts of:
Research and Applications Operations Technical Developments and Visions
Important decisions of the meeting
The International South Atlantic Buoys Programme action group reported new initiatives to establish the ‘Global Earth Observation System of Systems – (GEOSS)’ The consequence of the European Union formation, the panel received the applications of the EUCOS-Surfmar (Surface Marine Programme of the Network of European Meteorological Services) to be an action group of DBCP to replace EGOS (European Group of Ocean Stations) related to data buoys in the North Atlantic and adjacent areas. EUCOS – Surfmar had 15 members consisting of the following : Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. The Technical Coordinator of DBCP reported about the media used by DBCP       to exchange information among buoy operators and advertises its activities. Media currently being used consist of the DBCP web site, internet news, mailing lists, DBCP publications, a brochure and articles in magazines.   The Technical Coordinator acknowledged that the article provided by the Programme Director, NDBP, India on ‘use of real time moored buoy observation for port applications’ has been published in Port Technology International in March 2004 issue. Technical Issue: On going quality control guidelines were discussed on the buoy data and the status and conclusions have been reported in the enclosed document. The new communication technologies available for data communications has been provided by Mr.David Meldrum, Chairman, DBCP and presented to the participants. The panel addressed the problem of vandalism and requested that the IOC/WMO Secretariat have to contact the International (IHO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and providethem with the leaflet and to request them to distribute it widely among their member countries and Institution. The panel noted with appreciation that IHO  had sent a circular letter to Member States of IHO together with the background information, asking them to bring to the attention of their maritime agencies to inform the mariners on the vandalism issues. Similar actions initiated by FAO have been appreciated by the Panel. The Panel expressed their appreciation to India for their forth coming contribution of US$3000 towards DBCP voluntary funds. The Panel recommended to Joint Tariff Agreement to keep NOAA12 and NOAA14 satellites in operation and to include multi-satellite services within the basic service of  ARGOS under the Joint Tariff Agreement. The following have been re-elected to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the intersession period up till October 2005.
Chair Mr.David Meldrum, Vice-Chair (Asia) (NorthAmerica) (Southern Hemisphere) Mr.K.Premkumar, NIOT, DOD, India Ms. Elizabeth Horton, NOVA, USA Mr.Louis Vermaak, South Africa Weather Service
The papers presented on emerging new satellite communications found to be interesting. The availability of INSAT for the buoy data communication has been well received. Also we could understand the new thinking and plan of NOAA (USA) to have an integrated ocean observation system around the globe.
20th session of DBCP (19th October 2004): In order to gain time, it has been decided to commence the 20th DBCP session from 19th October 2004 p.m. at NIOT Sagar Sangamam conference centre at Rajendra Chola Hall.
On 20th, 21st, & 22nd October 2004: The remaining part of DBCP session was held at conference hall of MGM Beach Resort. The report on 20th DBCP session is placed at Annexure VI. The important discussions taken during the DBCP sessions are as follows.
From 25th to 27th October 2004: The JTA meeting was held at MGM Beach Resort. The important decisions of the JTA to mention here is to implement a pilot programme for a new tariff scheme from the year 2006 and beyond. India would be participating in the pilot programme from 2005 onwards. Along with India, France, The Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand would implement the pilot programme. The U.S. is likely to join.