Marine Physical Laboratory The Scientific Research Support Potential of the Submersible MARITAL/A 3GST9 Andreas B. Rechnitzer (Viking Oceanographics, 1345 Lomita Road, El Cajon, California 92020). MPL TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 420 April1990 Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. University of California, San Diego FILE COPY Scripps Institution of Oceanography TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 OBJECTIVE AND APPROACH 4 BACKGROUND 6 THE MARITALIA 3GST9 7 NATIONAL OCEAN RESEARCH THRUSTS 9 SIO SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP 12 DISCUSSION 13 2 I I 1111 I SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT SAFETY CERTIFICATION 29 CONCLUSIONS 30 ACKNO~EDGEMENTS 31 REFERENCES 32 APPENDIX A, OCEANLAB CONCEPT REVIEW 34 APPENDIX B, SIO MARITALIA 3GST9 WORKSHOP April13, 1989 36 APPENDIX C, SCIENTISTS INTERESTED IN USE OF 3GST9 38 APPENDIX D, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AREAS .. 41 APPENDIX E, INSTRUMENTATION OPTIONS 45 3 II I1111---·--------------- The Scientific Research Support Potential of the Submersible MARITALIA 3GST9 INTRODUCTION Deep submergence facilities are now considered to be a vital component of the U. S. Navy fleet and the National Oceanographic Laboratory System facilities inventory. Scientific use of manned submersible systems is now routinely applied to a broad range of scientific disciplines. Advancements in deep submergence technologies continue to require evaluation and assessment for their scientific support potential. This study report assesses the scientific support potential of a specific new diver lockout submersible, the MARITALIA (3GST9), that may be added to the U.S. Navy deep submergence facilities inventory. OBJECTIVE AND APPROACH The objective of this study was to assess the scientific support potential of the MARITALIA 3GST9. A study goal was to answer the following questions: • What scientific disciplines can be significantly advanced by a closed·cycle, diesel-powered, lockout submersible facility? • What new knowledge and understanding can be expected from the application of a diesel-powered, lockout submersible? • What voids exist in present research facility capabilities that can .. be effectively filled by the availability of a diesel-powered, lockout submersible? 4 II 111111'111------------------- A literature review was conducted that reconfirms that there exists a broad range of scientific projects that could benefit from the availability of a diver lockout submersible. The scientific areas that could benefit from the availability of the MARITALIA 3GST9 appear in this report. Particularly germane candidate research projects are given in a Report of a Study by a Subcommittee of the Ocean Sciences Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, entitled Oceanlab Concept Review, Washington, D.C. 1980. (see Appendix A for Review Objectives and Participants} Studies conducted by the U. S. Department of Commerce determined that an autonomous submarine was the best system to perform the Oceanlab missions. The missions were described by oceanographers throughout the U.S. in response to solicitation from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. About 400 individual items emerged and they effectively covered the entire spectrum of disciplines defined as oceanography with biology and geology dominating. The biologists and geologists can thus gain more from use of man's capabilities as an intelligent observer and collector. Professionals were contacted for their comments regarding their personal saturation diving experience using fixed habitats (diver lockout-types), tethered personnel transfer capsules, and diver lockout manned submersibles. A workshop was convened at the University of California San Diego, wherein Scripps Institution of Oceanography staff and other invited scientists considered the capabilities of the MAR IT ALIA 3GST9 to support their research projects; particularly those that could be carried out in the Southern California region. Findings derived from the above sources were incorporated into this assessment. 5 ;111::11111111!1'111·---··--------------- BACKGROUND The U.S. Navy has made deep submersible assets available to the oceanographic community since 1956. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) sponsorship of deep-sea scientific research facilities, such as the bathyscaph TRIESTE and the ALVIN, have served as the primary catalyst for significant United States scientific achievements in exploration of the deep ocean. ONR sponsored academic projects using these unique facilities have contributed to many U.S. "firsts" in accomplishment and revolutionary oceanographic discoveries that have changed the course of research in several oceanographic disciplines. In addition, the U.S. Navy deep submersibles NR-1, TURTLE and SEA CLIFF have been made available for scientific studies with excellent results. In the United States scientific use of manned submersibles has been supported principally by the Undersea Research Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Navy (Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Submarine Development Group ONE and Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE). Scientific use requirements for manned submersible dive time continues to exceed funding availability. Each year several hundred scientists representing the disciplines of geology, biology, chemistry and physics, use both U.S. Navy fleet,­ Navy ONR, and civilian owned submersibles facilities to further their research. NOAA does not own any submersibles, but leases facilities from civilian firms. Major NOAA applications of submersibles are for baseline environment measurements; monitoring and assessment of areas planned for ocean dumping, undersea mining, oil and gas production activities, development of offshore power plants and offshore deep-water structures, biology, geology, and for fisheries research and management. Additionally, submersibles have been used in salvage operations, sediment transport studies assessing the fate of pollutants and bottom nutrients, and in test and evaluation of new marine instrumentation. 6 Ill In some diver lockout research, submersibles are the best means available for detailed examination and sampling of deep ocean features. Of the 88 dive-days logged by Harbor Branch Foundation (now Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution) in FY 1976, 57 were lockout dives performed from the JOHNSON-SEA-LINK I and JOHNSON-SEA-LINK II. Maximum lockout depth was 180 m. (Anonymous, Manned Undersea Science and Technology Fiscal Year 1976 Report, . Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. March 1977) Other diver lockout facilities include several stationary habitats (LA CHALUPA, EDALHAB and HYDROLAB). Stationary habitat facilities have proven to be valuable for ocean and biological monitoring, e.g., biological and geological. A new habitat has been developed and installed off St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. The long underwater endurance, diver lockout potential, and other attributes of the MARITALIA 3GST9 represent a significant advance in deep submersible state-of-the-art that merits an assessment of its capabilities to support oceanographic research . THE MARITALIA 3GST9 The design and fabrication of diesel-powered (closed-cycle), diver lockout submersibles is a specialty of the Italian firm MARITALIA .. This study assesses the scientific research support potential of the MARITALIA 3GST9 only. This advanced design submersible has the capability of cruising for 24 hours at eight knots to a design depth of 2,000 feet. It can carry a diver lockout crew of two plus a pilot, co-pilot, and a scientific party of three. With an operating radius of 80 miles it offers an improved capability, for a manned submersible. It is a submersible that, once launched, can be operated from a shore base, thus avoiding at-sea launch and recovery requirements common to other diver lockout submersibles. 7 I ~~~ --------------------- A unique MARITALIA 3GST9 feature is a closed-cycle diesel main propulsion system. An additional, and again unique, feature is the pressure hull that is constructed of toroidal tubes (doughnuts formed of steel tubing). The individual toroids can serve as storage vessels for various gases, gas mixtures, and waste gas products from the diesel engine. There are accommodations for a crew of two and a scientific party of three. Payload capacity is 300Q pounds. A large viewing port located in the bow is available for both the crew and scientific party. The craft has not been outfitted with scientific equipment. If current plans are implemented, this vehicle will undergo thorough engineering tests in Italy by the U. S. Navy. Following a successful period of operational tests in Italy the vehicle will be transferred to San Diego for further military evaluation and operation by Naval Special Warfare Group One working in close coordination with Submarine Development Group ONE. The latter organization now operates and makes the services of the manned submersibles SEA CLIFF and TURTLE available to the oceanographic community for 60 days of diving per year. When purchased by the U. S. Navy similar scientific use time is anticipated for the MARITALIA 3GST9. A somewhat standard suite of oceanographic instrumentation available for every dive has been developed for the manned submersibles ALVIN, JOHNSON-SEA-LINKs I and II, NR-1, and SEA CLIFF and TURTLE. Hardware/software is available to readily create a customized oceanographic instrumentation suite for the MARITALIA 3GST9. It is expected that most new scientific requirements can be met using existing instrumentation