Sub Biosphere 2: A Self-Sustaining Underwater City

I wrote a few articles about living underwater a few years back
Here is this new article published in inhabitat
Sub Biosphere 2: A Self-Sustaining Underwater City
by Bridgette Meinhold, 06/16/10

The Gyre: A Floating Upside Down Eco Skyscraper

Underwater Ocean City for a Future Australia

There are more related posts in the same site

Diving in Naxos, Greece

We completed a very nice dive of a wreck in Naxos, Greece. The guys of Blue Fin Divers took us to the “Marianna”. This cargo ship ran aground into a reef, between Naxos and Paros. The remaining of the ship was blown and left at 24 meters depth, over the coral reef.
More about this dive in their web page


It’s been some time since my last dive but I still love it. Adriana was a little bit insecure at the beginning; however, once she when down, she was happy as a fish.







Thanks to the people o Naxos and Blue Fin Divers for such a good time

ROVs are right handed

It is common to say that an ROV is right handed due to the position of the manipulators. The "seven functions" is normally installed on the starboard (right) side of the ROV, whilst the "five functions", used for grabbing or keeping position, goes on the port (left) side of the ROV.
The seven functions manipulator has seven different movements:
- Azimuth, rotary movement up to 240 degrees
- Shoulder pitch, linear movement of 120 degrees
- Elbow pitch, rotary movement 270 degrees
- Wrist pitch, rotary movement 180 degrees
- Wrist yaw, rotary movement 180 degrees
- Wrist rotation, 360 degrees continuous
- Gripper, linear movement up to 97 mm (standard)
Depending on the job, the gripper can be changed or fingers can be added
The five functions is more robust and the functions are more linear except for the wrist. Jaws can be changed also on different configurations.


This is the most common arrangement but it’s not the only one. Manipulators can be installed and functioned in the opposite way if necessary, depending on the type of job to be performed. For some jobs, it is necessary to have two seven functions, one on each side.
Here is the link to Schilling Robotics manipulators.

Seven Oceans and Seven Seas

Here is an article about the Seven Oceans. She is a rigid pipe installation vessel with an Reel-lay system at stern; it can also be used to install flexible pipe. The interesting thing is that the rigid pipe is on a reel. There is usually no welding (unless a repair is necessary), reducing installation time.


The Seven Seas is basically the same vessel (at least hull and facilities) but with a J-lay system on a central moon pool and two under-deck carrousels for flexible pipe and/or umbilicals.

Photos by Chris Gulley and Craig Melville

For more information about pipelay equipment, a couple of links to Huisman webpage, fabricators of the Seven Seas J-lay and Seven Oceans Reel-lay

Fish tail

I got these pictures from a friend. No information on when this happened; but I guess it is a good way to start posting again here. Now that I’m offshore, I could probably get more pictures and tales (without breaking company policies)> Happy New Year!!!

Edda

Finally I had my first North Sea job on the back of the Norwegian Construction Vessel Edda Fjord.


It was a good productive week, excellet vessel, good crew ... and amazing food!!!
Still there is lot of work to do in the next couple of months and probably back to the Edda in August or September

New Revolutionary Underwater Breathing Device Revealed

"The Greatest Thing In the Industry In a Long Time" by Underwatertimes.com News Service
San Diego, California (Oct 24, 2006 18:04 EST) Homeland Security Group International, Inc. announced today that its newest product, Neptune EBD1, has been re-designed to extend the breathing time to fifty-five minutes.
The new breathing device measures approximately 13 inches long, 4 1/2 inches wide with a weight of just less than five (5) pounds. The new version, which has not been officially named, will supply 55 to 60 minutes of positive, 2-stage regulated airflow depending on stress level.
Like its predecessor, the Neptune EBD1, this new device utilizes factory-sealed air cylinders making it immediately ready for use even after prolonged storage. Just one hand is required to start the device. It is small and lightweight and currently comes with an optional holster pouch. Only a short orientation is required prior to use. The device is ideal for aircrew members, workers in confined spaces (such as mines), firefighters, law enforcement, divers, hazmat crews, etc.
"We have been working closely with the inventor to get this offering to the market quickly due to market interest. We feel this newest generation will revolutionize the diving industry," commented Powers. "Imagine a 5 pound air bottle that allows for 55 minutes of breathing time. Paperwork for new patents is near completion. We previewed the Neptune EBD1 at Strong Angel III Integrated Disaster Response Demonstration in August. Since that date we have aggressively targeted Fire Departments, Emergency First Responders, Military and Law Enforcement personnel. Everyone we have shown this device immediately wants more information. This new version was borne out of feedback from military, civilian and law enforcement divers. These trained military and civilian professional divers are telling us this is the greatest thing that the diving industry has seen in a long time," concluded Powers.
The company is also working with their joint venture partner Recon Mountaineer LLC to design a new Buoyancy Compensating (BC) vest that will incorporate the EBD. EBD1 models are available for immediate shipping. HMSG expects to have the new version available for sale by mid November.