IIT Madras Unveils Advanced Maritime Research Facility with Rs. 4.5 Crore Funding from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) inaugurated an advanced ocean engineering research facility on 20th May 2026 at its Satellite Campus in Thaiyur, near Chennai. The state-of-the-art Circulating Water Tunnel facility, constructed with Rs. 4.5 crore in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime research capabilities. The facility, now fully operational, is designed to support cutting-edge hydrodynamic studies and experimental testing of ship models, propellers, and underwater structures. The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), Capt. Jagmohan, IN (Rtd), Chairman and Managing Director of MDL, and Mr. Vinit Wagh, Deputy General Manager (Design) from MDL. Other key participants included Prof. R. Vijayakumar from the Department of Ocean Engineering, Ms. Vasudha Narasimhan, Senior Vice President - Corporate Relations, and Mr. Kaviraj Nair, CEO of the Office of Institutional Advancement, along with other stakeholders from IIT Madras. The hybrid wind and circulating water channel facility provides a stable, uniform-flow test section for advanced hydrodynamic investigations. This will significantly enhance research and teaching activities in the Department of Ocean Engineering at IIT Madras. The facility’s capabilities include testing marine vehicles, offshore systems, underwater structures, and fluid dynamics, while also offering advanced training opportunities for students and researchers in ocean engineering and related disciplines. Prof.#chennai #iit_madras #mazagon_dock_shipbuilders #thaiyur #hydra_centre
