HABITAT EMPLACEMENT 



With ballasting complete, the habitat had a reserve buoyancy of 5,000 lbs. 

 It was then towed to the emplacement or experiment site and moored to four 

 deadmen. The deadmen were steel bins, each filled with approximately 

 3,000 lbs. of iron pigs, adjacent to the four corners of the leveled 

 habitat site on the ocean floor. The following day the internal pressure 

 of the habitat was increased to 20 psig and emplacement begun. Hand 

 winches were attached between the four deadmen and the four corners of 

 the habitat base and winching started, with equal tension applied to each 

 cable during the downhaul process. This task was aided by the use of 

 simple inclinometers attached to the habitat. When the habitat was sus- 

 pended a short distance from the bottom (Figure 17) the hard ballast tanks 

 in the base, exerting some 5,000 lbs. of buoyance, were flooded, allowing 

 the habitat to settle on the bottom. Approximately 20,000 lbs. of iron 

 pigs were then hand loaded into ballast trays on top of the base, securing 

 the habitat firmly to the bottom. 



Figure 17. Final Stage of Hauldown 



The various umbilicals were laid and hooked up individually. The small 

 high pressure air line was completed first in order to maintain the 

 internal pressure of the sealed habitat had it become necessary, The 



11-23 



