CECRI established this Centre in 1987 within the Tuticorin new harbour area on the southeast coast of India. It stands in the open sea at a water depth of about 6 m, allowing natural immersion of rafts and specimens into the ocean waters. This Centre is thus unique, matchless facility, being the only laboratory in the world located right on the ocean. This facility offers excellent conditions for investigating marine corrosion under the tropical marine Indian climate amid round-the-year biofouling phenomenon.