(including constant tension winches and computer 
solutions of buoyancy and stability problems) are 
required. Needed are advanced attachment devices 
to lift large, cumbersome items. A special problem 
is containing and recovering dangerous liquid 
cargoes. 
Recovery operations at increasing depths will 
necessitate developing submersible systems with 
specialized heavy duty external equipment. For 
certain applications, hovering capability during 
operations, creation of excess buoyancy for lift, or 
attachment of a recovery device to an object will 
be necessary. Under conditions that obviate 
optical observation, sensors will have to define 
precisely the position of tools relative to the 
sunken object. A family of recovery devices will be 
necessary to accommodate the number of shapes, 
sizes, and types of objects. 
4. Conclusions 
Undersea systems are vulnerable to damage 
from earthquakes and other natural events, explo- 
sive forces from accident or enemy action, mal- 
functions of internal and external subsystems 
which may prevent surfacing or result in fire. 
Loss of life from underwater accidents is 
unnecessary and could slow exploitation of the 
undersea frontier. Almost no research and develop- 
ment is being pursued on the cause and forecast of 
hazards, the prevention of disasters, and emer- 
gency procedures other than fire fighting. 
Only limited capability exists for deep undersea 
search and rescue. The Navy’s Deep Submergence 
Rescue Vehicle requires that modifications be 
made to combatant submarine hatches. The 
system’s usefulness for rescue of small submers- 
ibles will be limited to such assistance as attach- 
ment of lift lines, observation, and communica- 
tion, because a small submersible’s size precludes 
incorporation of a mating hatch. 
U.S. salvage and recovery capability to present 
diver depths is good and will improve substantially 
when saturation diving to 850 feet becomes a 
Navy fleet operational capability over the next few 
years. Deeper recovery capability has advanced 
little since a few scraps of the U.S.S. Thresher 
were obtained following months of effort. Techno- 
logical development is needed in the areas of: 
—Platforms with high-endurance and maneuver- 
ability. 
—Search, location, and identification systems. 
—Lift systems. 
—Recovery, attachment, and viewing systems and 
tools. 
Recommendations: 
The Coast Guard should set standards and inspect 
and certify safety engineering of undersea systems. 
It should conduct research and development to 
identify hazard sources, safe materials, equip- 
ments, and methods, and document means of 
coping with emergencies that may occur in under- 
sea vehicles, structures, and operations. A principal 
objective should be the interchange of information 
among government and industrial designers, opera- 
tors, and other agencies concerned with safety and 
certification. Efforts of the group established to 
develop a Mutual Assistance Rescue and Salvage 
Plan (MARSAP) are an example of desired inter- 
change. Another important objective should be 
administration of rules regarding experimental and 
test devices, vehicles, and structures. Intelligent 
regard for safety without hampering useful techno- 
logical and scientific progress is a necessity. 
The Coast Guard’s search and rescue mission 
should be extended beneath the seas. Developing 
an operational capability should be coordinated 
closely with present Navy efforts. This capability 
should be commensurate with the rate of indus- 
trial and recreational advancement into the sea and 
should concentrate on developing systems to 
2,000 feet within 5 years and 20,000 feet within 
10 years. The Navy rescue program should be 
given sufficient priority to achieve an operational 
system on the current schedule. 
Navy salvage development efforts to saturation 
diving depths should be renewed and should 
include an effort to extend the capability to 2,000 
feet within 5 years. Deep ocean recovery should 
receive high priority and should be routinely 
operational to 20,000 feet within 10 years. 
IV. NEARSHORE ACTIVITIES 
The nearshore zone consists of the land 
immediately adjacent to the sea and the waters 
over the continental shelf to the 2,000-foot con- 
tour. Inshore areas are those in most intimate 
contact with the shoreline. 
VI-99 
