Discribed below is a patent pending semi-submersible tourist vessel Including:
   ·Excerpts from the patent application
   ·Specifications
   ·Method of operation
   ·A simple financial statement
   ·Drawings from the patent application

I believe the vessel described will, in many cases, replace existing tourist submarines and will greatly expand the number of locations where underwater tours can be conducted. It would be easily accessible to families with young children and the increasingly aging population who may not be willing to try an open water transfer to a tourist submarine or for that matter travel in one. This vessel would be used for the purpose of conducting underwater excursions and in particular reef tours. The proposed vessel is very cost effective, as it is both easy to construct and easy to maintain. The vessel described is a 64-passenger example and as such has a realistic depth capability of 35 to 45 feet, larger or smaller vessels would have a greater or lesser depth capability given the same proportions. The ability to go beyond a depth of 35 feet is not required in most locations, as live reefs do not exist at depths greater than about 35 feet due to a lack of sunlight. In addition the passengers will be able to comfortably view the surroundings to an additional depth of 20 to 30 feet, (in many locations the visibility can extend beyond 100 feet or more). An exciting new development in the tourist submarine industry is the ability to construct all acrylic hulls. Given that this vessel carries all of its machinery in the surface portion of the vessel, as opposed to in and around the passenger hull, the view and the experience of being underwater would be even more spectacular.

Advantages Over Existing T Subs

 

1.) Low construction cost
    The main structure consists of:
        2 outer hulls - 50 sq.ft.cross-section with internal bulkheads/dividers
        1 passenger hull - 36 sq.ft. cross-section
        2 hydraulic cylinders (60 ton capacity each)
        1 pilot house
        2 engine room enclosures
        1 deck structure
2.) Low maintenance/operating costs
    Uses standard marine diesel power system.
    Capable of extended ocean passage (low transportation costs).
    The vessel does not require special maintenance or facilities.
    It does not require passenger transfer/support/tow vessel.
    It does not require battery recharging, oxygen bottle replacment, refreshing
       of CO2 scrubbers, extensive system checks etc.
    It does not require a large specialised support staff.
    The vessel is capable of lifting each hull free of the surface, individually
       for the purpose of exterior maintenance.
3.) Uses regular docking facilities
    When unballasted the vessel behaves as a normal vessel, though of catamaran
       configuration (uses pivoting thrusters for optimum manoeuvrability).
4.) Extended operating hours
    The vessel only requires diesel refuelling and periodic maintenance.
5.) Special personnel are not required
    Uses a regular crew as might be hired by a surface boat, tour operator;
       (Crew complement - 1 pilot and deckhand on the surface portion
       1 co-pilot manning the passenger hull).
    Uses satellite positioning and digital chart technology to display position
       and intended route to the pilot, as opposed to dead reckoning.
6.) Lower fear factor
    Does not require open ocean passenger transfer.
    Permanently attached to the surface vessel.
    Unlimited air supply.
7.) Lower ticket price
    Suggested price: (40-50%) of submarine excursion.

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ABSTRACT

A surface vessel capable of lowering a sealed passenger hull into the water and moving the passenger hull through the water for the purpose of conducting an underwater tour. The vessel is equipped with the means to lower and raise the passenger hull vertically such that the center of buoyancy of the vessel and the center of gravity of the vessel remain aligned relative to the force of gravity. The passenger hull is supplied with fresh air from the surface and expels spent air back to the surface thereby maintaining normal atmospheric pressure within the passenger hull. The vessel contains ballast tanks capable of taking on seawater, when the passenger hull is in a raised position. The water ballast being used to offset the buoyancy of the passenger hull as well as increasing the stability of the vessel, when the passenger hull is in its lowered position. Before resuming normal surface operation seawater is discharged from the ballast tanks, utilizing the buoyancy of the passenger hull, while the passenger hull is still below the water surface and not yet in the fully raised position.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, not necessarily to scale, of which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the vessel.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vessel.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the vessel.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the vessel with the passenger hull fully submerged.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the outer hulls with the water valve in the open position.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the vessel.

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METHOD OF OPERATION

Starting at the dock the vessel takes on passengers and proceeds out to the tour site with the passengers on the deck. Once the vessel arrives at the tour site the passengers then seat themselves in the passenger hull which is then sealed. The water valves are opened and the 16 water compartments, located in the outer hulls, begin to flood. The passenger hull is in its fully retracted position at this point (apx. 3 ft. higher than the outer 2 hulls). The water compartments flood and the water valves are then closed. The passenger hull is extended downward (36 ft. below the surface). The tour commences, at approximately .5 to 1 knot. At the end of the tour the vessel stops. The passenger hull is raised to a position where the top of the hull is level with the baseline of the outer 2 hulls (just below the surface). The water valves are opened, as the water compartments drain the passenger hull is raised slightly to keep the vessel level. The water valves are closed. The passenger hull is raised to its fully retracted position. Passengers are escorted out to the deck area and the vessel returns to the dock.

VESSEL SPECIFCATIONS 

Length                                70'
Beam                                  56'
Height (single stage hydraulics)      52'
Displacement                    90000 lb.
Max. draft                            36'
Max. speed                     >15 Knots

OUTER HULLS (Each)

1 Engine Room containing:
   1 Diesel engine
   2 Battery systems
   1 AC power system
   1 Hydraulic pump
   1 Air pump
   1 Air conditioner
   1 Fuel tank compartment
2 Thrusters (Hydraulic Drive)
8 Compartments containing:
   45% sealed air chamber (1432 cu.ft.  91642 lb.Disp.)
   55% water ballast tank (1750 cu.ft. 112006 lb.Cap.)
   1 Water valve

PASSENGER HULL

>Volume                           2200 cu.ft.
>Gross buoyancy                 142000 lb.
>Net buoyancy                   112000 lb.
>Seating  capacity                  64

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN (Yearly - U.S. Dollars) 


Revenue:(based on full capacity & $35/passenger)
    (64 passengers*10 trips/day*360 days oper.)
                                      8,064,000


Expenses:

   Dockage:                             120,000
   Wages:  Pilots             (2)       140,000
           Co-pilots          (2)       120,000
           Tour guides        (2)        70,000
           Reservation clerks (2)        50,000
   Fuel:                                 80,000
   Maintenance:                          50,000
   Misc.:                                60,000
                             __________________
                                        690,000


NET (Before Taxes):              7,374,000