The survey and exploration of marine non-living resources is being carried out by the Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Kanya, since 1984. The vessel is modern and fitted with sophisticated facilities for carrying out research in the field of physical and chemical oceanography, marine biology, meteorology, marine geology, marine geophysics, etc. The major achievements are:

Retrieval and re-deployment of sediment traps in Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal to understand and evaluate the role of phyto-chemical and biological processes by quantifying particulate flux sinking to the ocean floor.

BOBCRUST studies (Gravity, magnetic and seismic) carried out in Bay of Bengal.

Upper air data collection of meteorological parameters by IMD participants.

Collection of data on temperatures, salinity and other parameters of Bay of Bengal, under Tropical Ocean and Global Atmospheric Programme (TOGA) to understand the evolution of upper thermal structure on annual and inter-annual time scales and to explore the linkages between variability of upper layer heat content and Indian summer monsoon.

Collection of sea truth data for Ocean Remote Sensing Programme and to validate algorithms for retrieving oceanographic and meteorological parameters from satellite data.

Studies under JGOFS (Joint Global Ocean Flux) were undertaken to determine and understand processes controlling time-varying fluxes of carbon and associated biogenic elements in the Arabian Sea and to predict the response of biochemical processes to climate change. The vessel has undertaken 14 cruises including 4 trial cruises, spent 288 days at sea for scientific investigations and 44 days at port for bunkering and other works.