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RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Collision with surface vessel



Peter,

I agree with you that a collision on or near the surface is one of the most likely major accidents to happen to a PSUB.  This is supported by submarine history demonstrating that this is one of the largest causes of submarines under peace-time conditions.

 

The ABS included the requirements for a small porthole in the hatch so that you could look up while approaching the surface and hopefully see the shadow of a vessel overhead that is silent or stopped.  Larger submarines with a periscope have the capability to train the scope’s top lens upwards to accomplish the same feat.  Many sub’s operating procedures include a pause in ascent near the surface to look and listen for other vessels in the near vicinity.

 

If you do not have much internal noise in your PSUB, you should hear most power vessels while still at some distance.  A trainable hydrophone will help discern the direction.  The cabled camera is a good substitute for a periscope but will be difficult to obtain a stable image with known viewing direction on the surface.  Just remember that gadgets just require more maintenance and can detract from pleasurable operating time.

R/Jay

 

 

Respectfully,

Jay K. Jeffries

Andros Is., Bahamas

 

A skimmer afloat is but a submarine, so poorly built it will not plunge.

 

From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Peter Madsen
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 6:28 PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Collition with surface vessel

 

Hi Psubbers,

 

 

When people talk of submarine safety the situation most often assumed is a sub in distress on the seabed. This is of cause a very critical situation,

and we all design boats that are redundant in many ways so that we hopefully never get in that situation.

 

In my practical experience - however - getting hit by a passing surface vessel when being at or very close to surface is a much more likely incident. Depending on the speed and size of the vessel and submarine any level of damage is possible - and the sub I likely to sink with its pressurehull ruptured to some extent after the collision.

 

We are currently adding hydrophones to Kraka for detection and classification of surface sound contacts, and we are designing a cable camera for the UC3 - that can be send up prior to surfacing. We hope these technical gadgets may make it more safe to operate our subs.

 

The professionel submariners ( navy ) that I have talked to say that they solely depend on their passive sensors - hydrophone arrays - and they have zero way of detecting a drifting - stopped or sailing vessel.

 

What do other non navy submarine operator do - how do you psubbers handle this safety issue ? Most people ask me why we don't just have an underwater radar ?! - or is it sonar - a sea surface hull detection device...like the navy...

 

Well - what do you do ?

 

Regards,

 

Peter Madsen 

 

 


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