Maritime Research Center

Advancing global dialogue and strategic frameworks in the underwater domain! Dr. (Cdr.) @Arnab_UDA, Founder & Director of @MRCPune, represented MRC at the 2nd International Workshop on Enhancing Underwater Domain Awareness (#UDA) in @UofHaifa, Israel on November 4–5, 2026. The workshop commenced with inaugural greetings by Mr. Yona Yahav, Mayor of Haifa, followed by a keynote address from Prof. Yuval Steinitz, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Dr. Das addressed the session during Panel 1 discussion on 'Political, Strategic, and Operational Dimensions. We extend our sincere gratitude to session host Prof. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Shaul Chorev, Director, The Institute for Maritime Policy and Strategy (IMPS), panel chair & moderator Prof. Carmela Lutmar (University of Haifa), and esteemed co-panelists Vice Admiral (Ret.) Ioannis Pavlopoulos (President, Sea Guardian, Greece) and Dr. Patricia Schneider (Senior Civil Servant, German Armed Forces Command and Staff College). This engagement underscores the vital role and growing global footprint of MRC, Pune in Underwater Domain Awareness—demonstrating how our indigenous UDA Framework strengthens maritime security, regional capacity building, and collaborative governance from the Indo-Pacific to the Eastern Mediterranean. #UDAFramework #MRCPune #MaritimeSecurity #EasternMediterranean #IndoPacific #DrArnabDas #BlueEconomy

Advancing Global Collaborations in Underwater Domain Awareness: MRC Director Visits University of Haifa, Israel 🌊🇮🇱 Strengthening international partnerships is pivotal to realizing a sustainable Blue Economy and securing critical maritime spaces. As part of his recent engagements in Israel, Dr. (Cdr.) @Arnab_UDA, Founder & Director of the @MRCPune, visited @UofHaifa to explore shared frontiers in marine robotics, subsea acoustics, and ocean monitoring. Key Highlights: 🔹 Subsea Acoustics: Acoustics Expert Mr. Shlomi Dahan gave Dr. Das a comprehensive tour of the state-of-the-art Underwater Acoustic and Navigation Laboratory (@anl_Haifa), highlighting cutting-edge research in acoustic signaling, subsea navigation, and ambient noise analysis. 🔹 Marine Robotics: Prof. Yizhaq Makovsky warmly welcomed Dr. Das and led an in-depth walkthrough of the University's Robotics Lab, discussing autonomous marine platforms, seabed sensing, and robotic interventions. 🔹 Special Thanks: We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Mark Shipton for his gracious coordination in facilitating this productive visit. This high-level exchange underscores the growing global footprint of MRC, Pune, reinforcing the crucial role of the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) Framework in bridging science, technology, and policy for enhanced maritime security and sustainable ocean governance. #MaritimeResearchCenter #MRCPune #UniversityOfHaifa #UDA #UnderwaterAcoustics #MarineRobotics #MaritimeSecurity #BlueEconomy

Celebrating Diwali with the Light of Knowledge ✨🪔 This Diwali, the @MRCPune, celebrates collaborative science, innovation, and sustainable maritime growth. As we champion the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) Framework, we are reminded that true illumination stems from ideas that drive action and homegrown technologies that safeguard our marine ecosystems. May this festival of lights illuminate our journey toward greater ocean understanding and brighter possibilities across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. 🌊 Wishing you and your families a joyous, prosperous Diwali from Team MRC! 🪔✨ #HappyDiwali #Diwali2026 #MRCPune #UnderwaterDomainAwareness #UDA #BlueEconomy #SustainableOceans

While shrimp aquaculture drives India’s seafood exports, rapid expansion has introduced critical socio-ecological vulnerabilities. A recent Gap Analysis by the @MRCPune, across Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and the Sundarbans highlights key sector challenges: 🔹 Ecological Strain: Mangrove degradation, salinization of arable land, and rising climate risks. 🔹Smallholder Realities: Over 90% of farms (<2 ha) face surging input costs and limited institutional credit. 🔹Biosecurity Deficits: Low adoption of CAA Better Management Practices (BMPs) and water testing. 🔹 Need for Integrated Models: An urgent shift toward Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and mangrove-shrimp systems. Anchoring these grassroots realities into the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) framework, MRC Pune advocates data-driven Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to safeguard coastal ecosystems while ensuring sustainable livelihood security. Read the complete paper here: [t.ly/0e4By] Important Note: Please log in with your credentials to access the full paper. #MRCPune #UnderwaterDomainAwareness #UDA #BlueEconomy #Aquaculture #ShrimpFarming #MarineSpatialPlanning #CoastalEcosystems #Fisheries

Expanding Global Frontiers in Maritime Innovation 🌊 @MRCPune, is proud to share that our Founder & Director, Dr. (Cdr.) @Arnab_UDA, represented MRC at the Blue Tech Summit IL.26 today at Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel. Hosted by the Israeli National Center of Blue Economy, the summit convened global ocean leaders, investors, and regulators. Dr. Das engaged with key stakeholders on scaling AI-driven ocean intelligence, subsea robotics, and secure marine infrastructure. These high-level interactions mark a crucial step forward in advancing MRC’s Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) framework internationally—bridging deep science, advanced technology, and governance to foster a resilient, sustainable global Blue Economy. #MaritimeResearchCenter #MRCPune #UnderwaterDomainAwareness #UDA #DrArnabDas #BlueTechSummitIL26 #BlueEconomy #MarineTech #OceanGovernance #IndiaIsrael

Advancing Maritime Security & the Blue Economy through Science and Innovation 🌊🇮🇳 @MRCPune, was honored to participate in the "@Youth4Nation_IN: Development for Nation Building" conclave on National Unity Day at @IISERPune—a premier scientific research institution. Speaking on "National Security: A 360° Approach," MRC Founder & Director Dr. (Cdr.) @Arnab_UDA highlighted the necessity of indigenous S&T for the tropical Indo-Pacific: 🔹 Tropical Realities: Imported systems fail in warm, shallow waters; local, field-based R&D is vital. 🔹 Bioacoustics: Snapping shrimp beds reaching 200 dB dominate acoustic soundscapes and alter undersea deployment. 🔹Marine Spatial Planning: Combining acoustic modeling, AI, and analytics with traditional coastal knowledge to resolve sediment flow, biofouling, and climate risks. Through our Underwater Domain Awareness (#UDA) Framework, MRC bridges Strategic Security, Blue Economy, Environmental Sustainability, and Digital Transformation. Based in Pune, we lead acoustic research to protect our waters and build an Atmanirbhar maritime future. Thank you, IISER Pune and Youth 4 Nation, for championing this vital dialogue! #MaritimeResearchCenter #UDA #NationalSecurity #BlueEconomy #IISERPune #IndoPacific #AtmanirbharBharat

Urban regeneration cannot end at the shoreline. 🌊🏙️ This #WorldCitiesDay, @MRCPune reflects on what makes our cities resilient and sustainable. For peninsular India, urban stability is tied directly to marine health. Coastal infrastructure and ports rely on safe, balanced underwater ecosystems to withstand climate challenges. Through our pioneering Underwater Domain Awareness (#UDA) Framework, MRC Pune bridges the gap between urban development and marine conservation: 🔹Safeguarding coastal hubs via real-time marine data 🔹 Driving a sustainable #BlueEconomy for port communities 🔹Enhancing climate resilience through underwater research True urban progress must be nurtured from coast to ocean depth. Let’s build climate-resilient cities while safeguarding the waters that sustain them. #WorldCitiesDay2026 #MRCPune #UDAFramework #UrbanRegeneration #ClimateResilience #SustainableCities #MaritimeResearch

🌊 How do we enhance passive sonar in tropical waters? In her final presentation for the UDA Summer Internship 2026, Ms.Tulika Devale (@MRCpune Intern, @BITS_Pilani Hyderabad Campus) highlighted the vital need to adapt underwater acoustic modeling to the unique tropical conditions of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Key Takeaways: 🔹Beyond Temperate Models: High spatial variations in temperature, salinity, and bathymetry in tropical waters demand localized Sound Speed Profiles (SSP) via the TEOS-10 framework rather than temperate-water assumptions. 🔹Model Benchmarking: Demonstrating that while Bellhop suits deep-water beam tracing, the Range-dependent Acoustic Model (RAM) is essential in shallow waters to capture seabed attenuation and boundary reflections. 🔹Enhanced Detection: Integrating localized transmission loss with ambient ocean noise and signal excess to reliably assess passive sonar ranges for non-intrusive surveillance and marine life conservation. About the Initiative: The UDA Summer Internship 2026 was conceived as a research capacity-building initiative by the Maritime Research Center (MRC), Pune, anchored in our UDA Framework to address interdisciplinary maritime challenges alongside academia and industry mentors. 🎥 Watch the full presentation: [youtu.be/JhxLbBr9uRk] #UnderwaterDomainAwareness #MaritimeResearchCenter #MRCPune #OceanAcoustics #PassiveSonar #MarineScience #BITSPilani #BlueEconomy #STEMIndia

Can India achieve ocean leadership without relying on foreign OEMs? 🌊🇮🇳 Speaking at our National Conference & Workshop on “Advancing Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) Framework for India’s MAHASAGAR Vision” in Pune—co-hosted by the @MRCPune with @ICWA_NewDelhi—Mr. Rakesh Kumar, General Manager at @BEL_CorpCom, outlined a strategic blueprint for securing India’s subsea future. Key Highlights: 🔹 The Three Blues Synergy: Realizing India’s #Vision2047 requires harmonizing the Blue Economy with long-term Blue Sky Research (5+ year horizon disruptive R&D) and a Blue Ocean Strategy (creating uncontested indigenous markets rather than competing on margins). 🔹 Collaborative "Co-opetition": Indian PSUs, private industry, and startups only compete in 10–15% of market segments. The remaining 80%+ demands synergy to build resilient domestic supply chains and eliminate costly dependencies on foreign imports. 🔹 Preserving Strategic Autonomy: Developing indigenous deep-sea exploration and subsea tech is critical to prevent external exploitation of regional resources across the Global South. 🔹 Industry Open for Synergy: BEL reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with academia, think tanks like MRC, and deep-tech startups to translate operational problem statements into deployable, cost-effective technologies. Watch the full address on our YouTube channel: 🔗 youtu.be/7NgmTJfrI-Q #UDA #MAHASAGAR #BlueEconomy #BEL #AtmanirbharBharat #DefenseTech #MaritimeSecurity #MRCPune #MakeInIndia #DeepTech

🌊 Can we better predict where floodwaters will go? In our latest UDA Digest article, Dev Raj Karan Singh, B.Tech student in Aerospace Engineering at @iitmadras and Research Intern at @MRCPune, explores how flood-inundation modelling can help identify vulnerable areas, strengthen early warning and disaster preparedness, and improve resilience across South Asia’s major river deltas. The article looks at how tools such as LISFLOOD-FP use elevation, river-flow, rainfall, and terrain data to simulate the movement of floodwaters and support more informed planning for communities and authorities. Importantly, flood modelling also connects with the #UDA Framework, highlighting its relevance to sediment movement, coastal navigation, marine ecosystems, fisheries, and the Blue Economy. 📖 Read the full article: digest.udafoundation.in/arti… #UnderwaterDomainAwareness #UDA #FloodModelling #FloodRisk #ClimateResilience #DisasterRiskReduction #BlueEconomy #RiverSystems #ClimateChange #MaritimeResearch #MRC

How does underwater commercial shipping noise impact marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods? In the latest issue of IJUDA (Vol. 01, 2026), our former Research Intern Varsha Mathews from St. Stephens College, Delhi University, examines the critical balance between maritime commerce and acoustic habitat protection. Key highlights: • Disrupted Soundscapes: Sound is the primary sensory medium underwater. Chronic low-frequency vessel noise masks communication, navigation, and foraging signals. • Ecological & Economic Strain: From blue whales to commercial fisheries, noise pollution causes physiological stress, alters migration routes, and risks billions in productivity losses for coastal communities. • Actionable Solutions: Mitigating noise demands data-driven Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), AI-powered Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), dynamic rerouting, and vessel quieting standards aligned with SDG 14. At the Maritime Research Centre (MRC), Pune, we are actively advancing the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) framework. By uniting AI-driven acoustic mapping with MSP toolkits, MRC is bridging operational maritime needs with sustainable ocean governance. 🔗 Read the full paper: [t.ly/GDzqf] Important Note: Please log in with your credentials to access the full paper. @Arnab_UDA, @MRCPune, @StStephensClg , @moesgoi, @moefcc, @shipmin_india, @incoismoes, @IMOHQ, @IocUnesco. #OceanAcoustics #BlueEconomy #NIO #StStephensCollege #MarineConservation #MRCPune #UDA #IJUDA #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #UnitedNations

Translating global maritime policy into technical practice! 🌊⚓ As #WMD2026 convenes in Busan under "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence," Maritime Research Center (MRC), Pune is launching its Flagship 1-Day Career Counselling Programme. The $100B+ Blue Economy & Underwater Domain Awareness (#UDA) landscape needs specialized technical talent. Join us to bridge the gap between engineering theory and real-world ocean innovation. What we cover: 🔹 The UDA Framework (strategic, economic & ecological) 🔹 High-growth roles in marine robotics, acoustics & defense tech 🔹 MRC research internships & hands-on mentorship 🔹 1-on-1 roadmapping for PG research & global fellowships 📍 Format: Offline, Online and Hybrid (MRC, Pune) 👥 For: Engineering & Multidisciplinary UG/PG students, researchers & faculty 🔗 Register here: [l1nq.com/6lm1jwi] "For more information, email us at : [[email protected]] #WorldMaritimeDay #WMD2026 #MaritimeExcellence #UnderwaterDomainAwareness #UDA #MaritimeResearchCenter #MRC #Pune #BlueEconomy #MarineTechnology #OceanAcoustics #EngineeringCareers #CareerCounselling #SkillIndia #MRCPune #OceanTech

Unlock the Future of Ocean Informatics & Predictive AI! 🌊🤖 Can we simulate and prevent ecological and maritime hazards before they happen? Watch how simulation-driven models are transforming Marine Spatial Planning. The #MSP toolkit ingests multi-source oceanographic datasets into AI-driven hydrodynamic models, simulating compound coastal flooding, oil spill drift trajectories, reef bleaching risks, and underwater acoustic soundscapes to enable proactive marine planning. Learn how to build these solutions firsthand with the @MRCPune through our 6-Month Advanced AI & Data Analytics Workshop! 🔹 Modes Available: Online | Offline | Hybrid 🔹 Focus: AI, Machine Learning, Geospatial Data Analytics & Predictive Marine Modeling 📌 How to Apply: Scan the QR code to apply, or click the link below. 👉 [pages.razorpay.com/pl_SSerxy…] Seats are limited—register today! #MaritimeResearchCenter #MRCPune #DataAnalytics #AIWorkshop #MarineSpatialPlanning #OceanInformatics #MachineLearning #PuneTech

DID YOU KNOW? 🛰️🌊 India’s rapid coastal aquaculture boom can now be mapped and monitored with high precision directly from orbit! To safeguard critical mangroves and coastal wetlands from unmanaged expansion, @MRCPune integrates Sentinel-2 satellite imagery with DeepLabv3 and Random Forest models across Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Gujarat. This framework tracks filled vs. unfilled pond lifecycles and spatiotemporal shifts, delivering science-backed data for sustainable marine spatial planning and coastal resilience under the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) framework. 💡 Research by: Susank Chigilipalli, Formar Research Intern, MRC Read the full research note to explore the methodology, key findings, and its relevance to sustainable coastal aquaculture planning. [t.ly/FuMle] (Note: Please log in with your credentials to access the full paper) #MaritimeResearchCenter #MRCPune #RemoteSensing #DeepLearning #EarthObservation #MarineSpatialPlanning #BlueEconomy #Sentinel2 #UDA

Reading Muddy Waters from Space: Harnessing Remote Sensing for Underwater Domain Awareness 🛰️🌊 Can space-based Earth observation solve critical challenges beneath the surface? In the latest UDA Digest, @MRCpune research intern Aryan Singh from @iitdelhi examines how satellite remote sensing tracks Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC) to protect aquatic ecosystems and bolster the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) framework. Key takeaways from the study: 🔹 Beyond Surface Murkiness: Suspended sediments act as dynamic linkages connecting land-use shifts, monsoon runoff, and broader ecosystem health. 🔹Infrastructure & Habitat Risk: Elevated sediment loads reduce reservoir storage capacity via sedimentation while restricting sunlight vital for primary productivity. 🔹Sentinel-2 Precision: High-resolution multi-spectral satellite imagery replaces sparse, resource-heavy boat sampling with basin-wide, continuous monitoring. 🔹Ujjaini Reservoir Case Study: Sentinel-2 observations capture seasonal sediment transport—from dry pre-monsoon phases to post-monsoon surges—across Maharashtra's Bhima River basin. 🔹The UDA Lens: Monitoring sediment transport yields indispensable intelligence on underwater visibility, acoustic and light propagation, and pollutant pathways. At MRC Pune, we remain committed to empowering young researchers applying geospatial analytics and remote sensing to solve pressing water and maritime challenges. Congratulations to Aryan on this valuable contribution! 👉 Read the full article in UDA Digest:[t.ly/x9Yrp] #MaritimeResearchCenter #UDADigest #UDA #RemoteSensing #Sentinel2 #IITDelhi #GeospatialIntelligence #WaterManagement #EarthObservation #Hydrology