to the point where most, but not all, supply at least 72 hours/man. There is a greater tendency towards 

 the use of LiOH as a CO2 scrubber, but in many cases it is carried in reserve rather than for normal 

 use, while baralyme or soda-sorb is used routinely. Because of the tremendous increase in life support 

 duration on individual vehicles. Table 14.6 should not be regarded as accurate. 



Instruments — The majority of instrument development is concentrated on work tools rather than 

 scientific devices. This, quite naturally, reflects the nature of the work being performed and 

 anticipated. One of the more active service corporations is Vickers Oceanics, Ltd. A recent brochure of 

 theirs provides an indication of the direction in which work tools and developmental techniques are 

 proceeding; this list includes: Impact wrenches, drills, grinder/cutters, corers (hard rock), chainsaws, 

 guillotines (cutting hawsers, ropes, etc), mud pumps, stud guns, handwheel operators, wire brushing, 

 explosive holecutting, underwater non-destructive testing, reciprocating saws, underwater burning, 

 concrete chippers, and undei-water welders. It is evident that engineering and work tools are coming of 

 age. 



Safety DeviceslEmergency Procedures — Changes in this area include not only increased life 

 support, but the appearance of releasable marker buoys that may be used for homing by rescuers; the 

 carrying of protective (i.e., thermal) clothing and underwater telephones with at least one carrier 

 frequency of 8.0875 kHz compatible with Navy UQC. Unfortunately, another submersible-related 

 tragedy occurred in early September 1975 with the STAR II. STAR II is launched/retrieved with the 

 LRT system (p. 594) which requires the assistance of three ambient divers: 1 to control the LRT depth/ 

 buoyancy and 2 to release/attach STAR II to the platform. While the incident is still to be fully 

 investigated and reported, it appears that depth control was either unattainable or misjudged, because 

 the sole surviving ambient diver recalls passing the 300 ft. level before he abandoned the LRT and 

 surfaced. The remaining two divers perished. STAR II was released and surfaced safely. The incident 

 tragically demonstrates the systems concept of submersibles. 



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