Vance - the comment about "enough mass" is an interesting one. I'm still working with this concept of a large submarine - much larger than your typical research / commercial submersible, but smaller than most military submarines. Providing facilities for such a vehicle to touchdown and blow negative is impractical, not only as an exercise in designing an appropriate structure to handle the mechanical stresses. but also to accommodate the necessary streamlining inherent to the military styled (high submerged speed) design. As militaries typically operate outside the bounds of OSHA/WCB, DOT/TC, USCG/CCG etc, I presume that there is no provision for lockout ops from such massive vehicles in the existing commercial regulations? Or would that situation fall under the regulations for bell operations, only with the mothership being a submarine rather than a surface ship? The concept vehicle has full dynamic positioning capability, in addition to a three point computer controlled anchor system. Add to that the fact that the submarine is massive, and lockout ops would appear to be relatively benign; however such a vehicle does not fall neatly into existing regulatory categories. -Sean (In my 30's - old enough to know I don't know everything, but still young enough not to let that stop me) On May 26, 2007 06:35:10 vbra676539@aol.com wrote: > Age and evil intentions will outdo youth and smug every time. Deal with it. > What you are suggesting is not new, merely dangerous. Figure a way to > "anchor" in midwater, or perform underway with enough mass (as in military > subs) and you'd be fine. Otherwise, problems compound. Don't take it > personally. I was 23 once, as well. The difference between us is that > you're coping with it and I'm merely glad it's over. Vance ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ The personal submersibles mailing list complies with the US Federal CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. Your email address appears in our database because either you, or someone you know, requested you receive messages from our organization. If you want to be removed from this mailing list simply click on the link below or send a blank email message to: removeme-personal_submersibles@psubs.org Removal of your email address from this mailing list occurs by an automated process and should be complete within five minutes of our server receiving your request. PSUBS.ORG PO Box 53 Weare, NH 03281 603-529-1100 ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************