The Research Committee of the Ministry was originally constituted in theyear 1976 to consider the research proposals of Ports, Shipping, ship building & Ship repairs and Inland Water Transport. The Research Committee was reconstituted in years 1978 & 2001, 2005 and recently in the year 2019.

1.FUNCTIONS:
a)Identification of broad areas in which research is to be undertaken.
b)Scrutiny of schemes proposed and screening of requests for funds.
c)Scrutiny of proposals for acquisition of capital equipment and evaluationof funds.
d)Monitoring and evaluation of schemes.
e)Advice on method of dissemination of results of studies undertaken.
f)And all other issues relating to research pertaining to Ports, Shipping andIWT.
2.METHODOLOGY:
The Research Committee discusses the proposals submitted for researchand approves the proposals subject to availability of funds if: -
(i)The proposal comes under thrust areas.
(ii)The study should not be of basic research.
(iii)It should pertain to a sector dealt with by Ministry of Shipping.
3.THRUST AREAS:
A.PORT SECTOR
(i)Generation of basic data for the coastal area in India
(ii)Erosion and siltation
(iii)Pollution control and Abatement. Designs of Coastal Structures
(iv)New materials for Construction and use in Ports and Harbours
(v)Off shore Structures including floating break waters.
B.SHIP BUILDING AND SHIPPING SECTOR
(i)Energy Conservation on Board ships
(ii)Noise and Vibration Control of ships
(iii)Development of maritime communication System
(iv)Hull Design of country boats
C.IWT Section
(i)River Engineering: Physical and mathematical modelling of Riverbehaviour.
(ii)Hydraulic and Hydrographic data and Data base management. Computeraided base management.
(iii)Different types of berthing structures-Development of standard designs.
(iv)IWT Vessels-Design of standard vessels and performance prediction,Navigation aids.
The above thrust area can be extended to cover the changing needs ofresearch work.

4.COMPOSITION OF RESEARCH COMMITTEE: