IIT Madras Launches Advanced Maritime Research Facility with MDL CSR Support
Chennai, May 25 (TNT): Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched an advanced ocean engineering research facility built with CSR funding of ₹4.5 crore from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence.
The state-of-the-art Circulating Water Tunnel facility was inaugurated recently at “Discovery”, the IIT Madras satellite campus located at Thaiyur near Chennai, the Institute said in a release here on Monday.
The inauguration was attended by IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations) Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Chairman and Managing Director Capt. Jagmohan, IN (Retd.), and Deputy General Manager (Design) Vinit Wagh.
Other officials present included Prof. R. Vijayakumar of the Department of Ocean Engineering, Senior Vice President – Corporate Relations Vasudha Narasimhan, and CEO of the Office of Institutional Advancement Kaviraj Nair.
According to IIT Madras, the newly inaugurated hybrid wind and circulating water channel facility is fully operational and will support advanced hydrodynamic investigations involving ship models, propellers and bluff bodies.
The institute said the facility would significantly strengthen research and teaching activities in the Department of Ocean Engineering by enabling experimental studies related to marine vehicles, offshore systems, underwater structures and fluid dynamics.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam said the partnership with Mazagon Dock would enhance research and technology development in ocean engineering and allied disciplines while creating valuable opportunities for students, faculty and researchers.
Capt. Jagmohan said strengthening India’s maritime capabilities required sustained investment in research, innovation and academic collaboration.
He said the partnership with IIT Madras would support cutting-edge research and help nurture future talent in ocean engineering and naval technologies, contributing to the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in the maritime sector.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is one of India’s leading warship-building yards and has built 808 vessels, including 33 warships and eight submarines.
IIT Madras and MDL are also exploring future collaborations in advanced maritime and naval technologies, including the proposed HYDRA Centre, a large-scale hydrodynamic testing facility with a 500-metre towing tank, and research on indigenous thermoelectric subzero refrigeration systems for naval submarines and small vessels.
TNT KM
