Staring at the wheelhouse wall faciniated by how my yellow dive lgiht was emitting a pink light, while my group moved on, leaving me to tackle the 20 foot traverse over bottomless darkness while totally ripped was an interesting experience. It was pretty amazing how rising 15 feet was instant sobriety. I wish real drinking worked like that. "Hold on sweetie, I can't understand a word yer sayin! Lemme climb up this ladder to sober up frist!"
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In a loss of power situation, would dropping the ballast be enough?
Maybe a stupid question, but I've been wondering if the sub would surface without power? Or does the pressure at these depths override any buoyancy?
I think density of water increases with lower temperatures and increased pressure so if it is buoyant on surface I think it should be bouyant at depth. Not sure though.
When Cameron’s team designed his sub he had a failsafe to corrode off the ballast and self return to surface in the event of failure of various systems.
I think density of water increases with lower temperatures and increased pressure so if it is buoyant on surface I think it should be bouyant at depth. Not sure though.
When Cameron’s team designed his sub he had a failsafe to corrode off the ballast and self return to surface in the event of failure of various systems.
The guy on CBC was saying the sub would accelerate downwards if left uncontrolled, so adjustments need to continually be made to achieve a safe decent rate.
When Cameron’s team designed his sub he had a failsafe to corrode off the ballast and self return to surface in the event of failure of various systems.
This one was supposed to have something similar with self-dissolving bonds for the ballast bags. It also apparently had ballast that could be released hydraulically, so they'd still be able to release it in the event of a loss of power. And then in the event of loss of hydraulic power, there was the "lean to one side" mechanical release as well. Who knows which (if any) of those were fully functional though.
This one was supposed to have something similar with self-dissolving bonds for the ballast bags. It also apparently had ballast that could be released hydraulically, so they'd still be able to release it in the event of a loss of power. And then in the event of loss of hydraulic power, there was the "lean to one side" mechanical release as well. Who knows which (if any) of those were fully functional though.
That just pushes forward the theory that they had an issue with integrity of the hall and the pressure got to it.
That just pushes forward the theory that they had an issue with integrity of the hall and the pressure got to it.
That seems the most likely. But from what I understand, that kind of explosion (or implosion, I guess) would have likely been picked up by sonar if it had happened. But I suppose that depends on whether the ship they launched from was using sonar and/or if US submarine tracking sonar is capable of detecting that in that area.
I suppose an electrical fire is another option, as the ballast released by the self-dissolving bonds might not be enough to bring it to the surface on its own. Or they could be bobbing around on the surface somewhere.
That seems the most likely. But from what I understand, that kind of explosion (or implosion, I guess) would have likely been picked up by sonar if it had happened. But I suppose that depends on whether the ship they launched from was using sonar and/or if US submarine tracking sonar is capable of detecting that in that area.
I suppose an electrical fire is another option, as the ballast released by the self-dissolving bonds might not be enough to bring it to the surface on its own. Or they could be bobbing around on the surface somewhere.
It would be even more tragic if they were bobbing on the surface just waiting for someone to find them while oxygen runs out. You would hope they would have some kind of tool that could get them out inside with them.
This one was supposed to have something similar with self-dissolving bonds for the ballast bags. It also apparently had ballast that could be released hydraulically, so they'd still be able to release it in the event of a loss of power. And then in the event of loss of hydraulic power, there was the "lean to one side" mechanical release as well. Who knows which (if any) of those were fully functional though.
You have to wonder how often, if ever, these re-surfacing failsafe measures are actually tested or replaced. For example, a parachute needs to be inspected and re-packed at least every 180 days under FAA regulations whether it is used or not, just to ensure it will function properly when needed. Smoke detectors and fire alarms need to be constantly tested. Brakes on vehicles need to used once in a while to endure they function. I would think the same principle would apply here.
I wonder if OceanGate just installed these re-surfacing devices 5 years ago and then left it like that.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Last edited by FlamesAddiction; 06-21-2023 at 01:30 PM.
This one was supposed to have something similar with self-dissolving bonds for the ballast bags. It also apparently had ballast that could be released hydraulically, so they'd still be able to release it in the event of a loss of power. And then in the event of loss of hydraulic power, there was the "lean to one side" mechanical release as well. Who knows which (if any) of those were fully functional though.
I would think if they landed on the seabed in a non ideal position that it could render the "lean to one side" redundancy unusable. That combined with power loss might explain how they could be stuck on the bottom in uneven terrain.
Unfortunately looking like they are gonzo either way at this point.
It would be even more tragic if they were bobbing on the surface just waiting for someone to find them while oxygen runs out. You would hope they would have some kind of tool that could get them out inside with them.
I don't know if any handheld tools are getting through something that is designed to withstand that kind of pressure. But even just having a beacon onboard and painting the sub a bright color that stands out from the waves (as opposed to white) would have helped a ton in that kind of situation.
I don't know if any handheld tools are getting through something that is designed to withstand that kind of pressure. But even just having a beacon onboard and painting the sub a bright color that stands out from the waves (as opposed to white) would have helped a ton in that kind of situation.
Pressure vessels are designed to withstand equal pressure from all sides but not neccessarily a direct attack on a single point like a simple battery powered drill could have on carbon fiber. If I got to the surface, I would just drill air holes in the top and hope water doesn't start coming in.
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Pressure vessels are designed to withstand equal pressure from all sides but not neccessarily a direct attack on a single point like a simple battery powered drill could have on carbon fiber. If I got to the surface, I would just drill air holes in the top and hope water doesn't start coming in.
Yeah, that's true. I know drilling carbon fibre can be tough by hand, but I guess with enough persistence it might be possible. Still though, who knows how stable that thing is on the surface after it has released its ballast. You might just end up causing it to sink again. And really, a functioning beacon would make that all mostly redundant. Once that thing is on the surface, it'd be pretty trivial to find it with that well before the oxygen ran out.
Yeah, that's true. I know drilling carbon fibre can be tough by hand, but I guess with enough persistence it might be possible. Still though, who knows how stable that thing is on the surface after it has released its ballast. You might just end up causing it to sink again. And really, a functioning beacon would make that all mostly redundant. Once that thing is on the surface, it'd be pretty trivial to find it with that well before the oxygen ran out.
I think I read that the capsule has a layer of titanium as well. Which also you could drill through with the right drill bits and powerful enough drill, but it wouldn't be easy. Still better than nothing though I suppose.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
The 30 minutes between noises could be important clue
Tiffanie Turnbull - reporting from London
News that noises have been picked up in the hunt for a missing submersible has offered a glimmer of hope that the five men on board are alive.
Frank Owen, from the Submarine Institute of Australia, says he is confident - based on the information available - the sounds are coming from inside the vessel.
"If there was a 30-minute interval, it's very unlikely to be anything but human related," he told the BBC.
Frank says the noises "smack of advice" coming from the fifth man inside - 77-year-old Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a former French navy diver and renowned explorer.
"He would know the protocol for trying to alert searching forces… on the hour and the half-hour, you bang like hell for three minutes," Frank added.
