Ocean is a vast stretch of seawater and a source of sustenance and livelihood for millions of people in the countries that border it. The marine resources of the Indian Ocean and the concept of the blue economy play a significant role in supporting the socioeconomic development and well-being of the populations living in this region.

INCOIS, being the central repository for marine data in the country, receives voluminous oceanographic data in real time, from a variety of in-situ and remote sensing observing systems. The Ocean Information Bank provides information on physical, chemical, biological and geological parameters of ocean and coasts on spatial and temporal domains that is vital for both research and operational oceanography. The Ocean Information Bank is supported by the data received from Ocean Observing Systems in the Indian Ocean (both the in-situ platforms and satellites) as well as by a chain of Marine Data Centres.

Further, INCOIS has been designated as the National Oceanographic Data Centre by the International Oceanographic Data Exchange Programme (IODE) of International Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Further, INCOIS serves as the National Argo Data Centre, Regional Argo Data Centre, and also the regional data centre and clearing house for the Indian Ocean region for the IOGOOS Programme.