Picturesque and rare, the Late Quaternary Red Sand Dunes—Erra Matti Dibbalu is spread over 10 sq km between the coasts of Visakhapatnam and Beemunipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Owing to its geological significance, the Geological Survey of India declared it as a National Geoheritage Site in 2014 while state government notified it as a Protected Area in 2016. Attempts are now underway to establish a Visakhapatnam Geopark by combining several geological and cultural sites in the region.

The 7,500 kms long Indian coastline is dotted with many major and minor ports. The temporal increase in the volume of cargo is also indicative of the rising emissions by ships which NIOT is trying to minimise using innovative strategies.

Observations in Polar Regions are essential for understanding changing climate. This article provides insights into how a floating laboratory—the Polar Research Vessel, is designed and built to meet the mission requirements of scientific users.