Deep Research Submarine

The Deep Sea Research Submarine (Figure 1) is a modified VIRGINIA Class Submarine that incorporates a permanently installed Deep Sea Operations Compartment (Figure 2). Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of the Deep Sea Research Submarine and the Deep Sea Operations Compartment. The compartment, inserted as a 46-ft parallel midbody section, carries a heavy lift system capable of retrieving a 15-ton object (submerged weight) from depths greater than 2400 ft. A 26-ft L x 22-ft H x 12-ft W payload bay external to the pressure hull is used to house the object for transport. This payload bay also serves as a fully functioning mid-ship Main Ballast Tank. The compartment is supported by a combination of ship service and compartment-specific auxiliary systems. Figure 1. Deep Sea Research Submarine The compartment also contains a 16 ft diameter x 17 ft high Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Chamber outfitted with a Triton ZX ROV capable of excursions to depths of 9800 ft. The ROV Chamber permits dry access to the ROV for maintenance and mission-related tasks. The control center for the lift system and the ROV and a "mission flexible" space are located on the compartment's upper deck Figure 2. Deep Sea Operations Compartment Table 1. Deep Sea Research Submarine and Deep Sea Operations Compartment Principle CharacteristicsDeep Sea Research SubmarineLength423 ftDiameter34 ftDraft28 ft 5 inSpeed Reduction11%Surfaced Displacement7861 ltonSubmerged Displacement8870 ltonLCG192.06 ftGMT1.05 ftReserve Buoyancy12.8%Deep Sea Operations CompartmentLength46 ftNSC Weight999.1 ltonSubmerged Lifting Capacity14.7 ltonMaximum ROV Depth9800 ftMaximum Retrieval Depth> 2400 ftConversion Cost 20 % as Percentage of Baseline Virginia Cost Estimated Conversion Cost$650 millio

Mr. J. T. Arcano and Mr. S. F. Burkeen of NAVSEA 05U6