DUAL DEEP WORKER SPECIFICATIONS

Visibility / Viewing ports
The pilot and observer enter the pressure hull of the Dual Deep Worker via two independently hinged 76cm (30-inch) diameter acrylic hemisphere hatches. In addition to entry/exit ports these hatches serve as viewing ports.

Pressure Hull
There are two separate steel pressure hulls each consisting of a 38-inch diameter sphere attached to 24-inch diameter by 36-inch long cylinder which serves as a leg extension.

Comfort
The pilot and observer sit comfortably in an upright-seated position in the pressure hulls, which are maintained at a one-atmosphere pressure.

Reliability
The Deep Worker submersibles built to date have logged over hundreds of dives and their design has proven to be safe, reliable and effective.

Ease of Handling / Thrusters
Four horizontally mounted one-horsepower thrusters plus two vertical thrusters mounted fore and aft assist the pilot in manoeuvring the submersible.

Safety
There are four methods of rapidly bringing the DDW back to the surface by the Pilot as follows:

• The main ballast tanks can be 'blown' (i.e., filled with air)
• A full vertical thrust command should be capable of bringing the DDW to the surface, provided the pilot has the vehicle ballasted correctly.
• The pilot or the observer can jettison the emergency drop-weight.
• Both the battery pods can be jettisoned (last choice)
• A safety briefing is given to all passengers prior to the start of any dive, which includes information on the use of all safety equipment, communication systems as well as instructions on how to return the submersible to the surface in the event the pilot is incapacitated.

Life Support
There are four (4) oxygen cylinders (two (2) for each pressure hull) carried externally and four (4) oxygen bellows units located internally (two (2) for each pressure hull), which together control the supply of oxygeninto each pressure hull. A total of 160 man-hours of oxygen are available to the occupants of the DDW eight hours of which is for normal operations and a 72-hour supply for emergencies (for each occupant).

Carbon dioxide is removed from the cabin atmosphere using four (4) independent soda-lime scrubbers. Carbon dioxide and oxygen monitors are installed in each hull. Each scrubber provides 40 hours of carbon dioxide absorption.

Emergency breathing is provided by a B.I.B.S. (Built In Breathing System) unit, which consists of the second stage of a SCUBA regulator connected directly to a regulated air supply derived from the submersibles HP air storage cylinders. In addition, a lung powered scrubber system is provided, which enables the occupant to draw breathable air directly from the CO2 scrubber unit without the need for electrical power.

Navigation / Sonar
A modified Imagenex colour imaging sonar unit is installed. It is switchable from standard scan to high-resolution short-range scan for use on the bottom when searching for sites.

Communications

A) A standard marine VHF radio is used for surface communications.

B) A digital underwater telephone called a Newtcomâ is used for subsea communications. The Newtcomâ is a single frequency 27 kHz underwater telephone, which is capable of transmitting at 70 Watts.

C) An internal PA system is used for communications between the two pressure hulls. For safety reasons, both the pilot and observer can communicate with the surface but the pilot will normally initiate all communications from the submersible and his/her microphone overrides the observers when necessary.

Power
The power supply gives the DDW a total of 55-Ampere hours (Ah) at 240 Volts. In the event there is a loss of power, an emergency power supply is capable of running the life-support and communications systems for the duration of an extended stay on the bottom.

Manipulators
Presently, the DDW is not fitted with a manipulator arm but all necessary electronic control functions have been installed, which will allow the rapid integration of a suitable arm when it is required in the future.

Launch and Retrievals
The Dual Deep Worker will be used on board 'ships of opportunity'. The DDW can be easily launched by any crane system rated to lift the 2.7 tonne weight of the submersible. A single lift point is fitted between the two pressure hatches on the centreline of the submersible. An alternative 4-point sling arrangement can also be used if necessary.

Lighting
Depending on the job at hand an array of lighting packages can be installed on the Dual Deep Worker. Lights available include 1200-watt, 600-watt, 400-watt and 200-watt HMI lights.

Filmmaking
Currently a super HAD CCD 3000 metre depth rated digital camera is mounted externally on the DDW. A additional package of cameras and lighting equipment can also be fitted if requested. A series of penetrators are installed in the pressure hulls. These penetrators act as 'conduits' for controls and wiring from external equipment to be installed inside the DDW, and sufficient are available for adding additional cameras, lights and other equipment.

Pilots and Sub Crew
The pilots, technicians and engineers on our DDW crew have spent thousands of hours working on a variety of submersibles and their combined experience is our client's best guarantee that operations will be run in a safe, professional and courteous manner.

Additional features
Additional science sampling equipment or filming equipment can be mounted on the vehicle at the request of clients. Multiple dives can be made in a day. A second set of charged batteries ensures available power throughout a working day.

Future
In 2004 the Dual Deep Worker will be available for worldwide projects. DOE is open to ideas of use for the DDW. The entire operation can easily be sea-freighted air freighted to required destinations. A team of three pilots and technicians efficiently runs the operation. Any array of projects can be considered including (but not limited to) tourist diving, filming, marine sampling and marine archaeology.

Dual Deep Worker Brochure
Dual_Deep_Worker.pdf (Requires Acrobat 636k)