National Institute of Ocean Technology

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) was established in November 1993 as an autonomous society under the Ministry of Earth Sciences in India, based in Chennai. It is managed by a Governing Council and headed by a director. NIOT's main goal is to develop reliable indigenous technologies to address engineering challenges in harvesting living and non-living resources within India's exclusive economic zone, an area about two-thirds the size of India's landmass. The institute operates through several technology groups, including Coastal and Environmental Engineering, Energy & Fresh Water, Marine Sensor Systems, Marine Biotechnology, Ocean Electronics, and Offshore Structures. These groups focus on areas such as desalination using Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD), ocean thermal energy conversion, wave energy, underwater sensor systems, tsunami early warning systems, and offshore structural components. NIOT also undertakes major technology projects such as deep sea mining of polymetallic nodules and research into gas hydrates. Its work supports national infrastructure development, disaster warning systems, and socio-economic development of island communities like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.