TEAM HERALD
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VASCO: A buoy of the Chennai National Institute Ocean Technology (NIOT), which is used for monitoring weather conditions at sea, was washed ashore on Baina Beach recently, after it snapped from its chains.
But what was more unusual was the attitude of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in allegedly washing its hands off the expensive piece of technology.
The buoy is used for monitoring weather conditions at sea such as assessment of height and period of waves. It also helps to monitor tsunamis, data from deep sea, wave direction and wave parameter depending on the accuracy of the wind.
When the NIOT buoy was brought to the notice of Vasco police, PI Rupendra Shetgaokar stated that since the equipment is heavy and expensive, he would direct a police team to patrol the area.
Incidentally, a Vasco-based journalist reported the matter to the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) at Dona Paula, to find out if the buoy belonged to the NIO and if they would take custody of the equipment.
“I contacted the landline of the NIO and I was told that the equipment did not belong to them and that it belonged to the NIOT at Chennai. The NIO did not evince much concern or interest in the matter,” the journalist said.
According to information available on the internet, the data from the buoys are transmitted through the ‘INMARSAT-C’ satellite system to the shore station located at NIOT Chennai at synoptic hours. The data received from the buoys are sent on real-time to the operational purposes of India Meteorological Dept (IMD), Coast Guard (CG), Navy, Ports, National Hydrographic Office (NHO) and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) for weather forecasting, research and developmental activities.
IMD has acknowledged the importance of the buoy data as it provides valuable information during extreme weather conditions like cyclones. The buoy data is available to the world community in Global Telecommunication System (GTS) through World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The data supplied to Coast Guard is utilised to monitor the safety of life at sea. The buoy data helps to optimize port operations in real-time through Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), which provides information on advance and safe sailing notifications.
