Having
worked at Harbor Branch a short time after the KSL incident, several issues
were identified that have proved out in review of almost all submarine
rescues:
1.
Start
rescue attempts as soon as possible, DO NOT DELAY! Any effort is better
then waiting for the best option.
2.
A second
submersible vehicle can greatly assist a rescue attempt, whether it is an ROV
or another submersible.
3.
Provide
adequate thermal protection in the submersible to mitigate long exposure to
even moderate cold.
4.
Emergency
CO2 scrubber and O2 supplies should be sufficient to
cover the maximum time expected before recovery can be completed (generally 72
hrs.).
5.
If
free-ascent is a viable option, start it at the earliest possible point as
rising CO2 levels, numbing cold, fatigue and other developing
catastrophes make it much more difficult later.
6.
Different
rescue scenarios should be sandboxed and looked at from all angles to
determine what issues might be resolved to prevent the
accident.
7.
Submarine
rescue should be practiced.
Respectfully,
Jay K.
Jeffries
Andros Is.,
Bahamas
Natura
nihil fit in frustra
-
Nature does nothing in vain
From:
owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org
[mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Rick and Marcia
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 1:17
AM
To:
personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Storm and
SUB
I understand there were
circumstances surrounding that particular incident that led to these deaths
being unnecessary. Apparently those present differed with the published
version of the event.
The deaths were, I understand,
preventable. The way the drama unfolded was what killed them,
not the accident itself. A decision tree that went
awry.