FEASIBILITY STUDY AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DEEP 

 OCEAN LOAD HANDLING SYSTEMS 



Technical Report R-652 



YF 38.535.003.01. 007A 



by 



D. A. Davis and M.J.Wolfe 



ABSTRACT 



Nine candidate systems for lowering and raising negatively buoyant 

 loads in the deep ocean were compared and evaluated by means of a systems 

 effectiveness model. For both load ranges considered — 20 to 100 tons and 

 400 to 600 tons at 6,000 feet — a lift system employing a ship with pipe 

 string suspension medium was considered to be the most feasible approach. 



Accurate positioning of heavy modular loads can be most readily 

 achieved by resorting to acoustic devices for guiding the translation and 

 rotation of the surface support craft prior to final emplacement. A manned 

 submersible would serve as a useful guidance backup system. 



The transport of 10- to 30-ton loads for short distances in the near 

 bottom environment is considered feasible. Final choice between two 

 competing systems, a heavy-life submersible and a hydrocopter, must await 

 further definition of work missions and load configurations. 



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