Rescuers are searching for a submersible used to take tourists and experts to view the famous shipwreck.

I wager they don’t have a recovery vessel because they have people sign contracts only allowing arbitration.

I wouldn’t be surprised. But, I suspect there’s also a factor of just implausibility. Apparently, the main vessel they use is “experimental”, so it may just literally be impossible to have a recovery vessel without being a literal government.

My money’s on this being the result of someone ignoring the “hey, these are not good conditions” warnings.

Not just ‘experimental’. This thing looks like something you’d find on a backyard engineering website. Some of it’s functionality is accessed with an offbrand video game controller.

CBS interview featuring the submersible.

@jellyfish@beehaw.org
link
fedilink
7
edit-2
1Y

The bit with the contract is @ 2:40:

An experimental submersible vessel that has not been approved or certified by any regulatory body and could result in physical injury, disability, emotional trauma or death.

There was some speculation the pressure vessel could have imploded, due to it being made out of thick fiber glass, which is like glass wherein any tiny imperfection under pressure can cause the entire vessel to break. This is why other pressure vessels are made out of stainless steel, they’re easier to inspect.

If the vessel didn’t implode, there’s a decent chance it’s floating on the surface, but lost. This is because the ballast for these subs is heavy metal attached via electromagnet. Should anything go wrong, the magnets can be disengaged, and the sub with resurface.

Here’s hoping it’s lost and can be found, imploding is a horrifying way to go, albeit a quick one.

I think I’d rather implode and go instantly, than be floating on the surface for 4 days and unable to get out while slowly suffocating.

Neither is my idea of a good time…

Pigeon
link
fedilink
21Y

Can they not open a hatch if it’s on the surface?

Water would be a problem still, but not suffocation, if so.

neuropean
link
fedilink
31Y

Nope, the ends are bolted on from the outside before they depart.

Nope. The hatch is bolted from the outside. They can’t do anything from the inside and are utterly dependent on someone outside with a power socket wrench to unscrew each of the 17 bolts holding the hatch on.

There are some design flaws with this thing.

@EeeDawg101@beehaw.org
link
fedilink
English
21Y

Ohh fuck that! That would be awful. :(

And their navigation is dependent on text messages from the support ship they charter. Oh, dear.

The CBS guy read aloud part of the thing he had to sign when he rode on it.

And the video is horrifying on so many levels…

“Everything else can fail. Your thrusters can go, your lights can go and you’ll be safe.”***********

Aged like milk.

Create a post

Breaking news from around the world.

News that is American but has an international facet may also be posted here.


Guidelines for submissions:
  • Where possible, post the original source of information.
    • If there is a paywall, you can use alternative sources or provide an archive.today, 12ft.io, etc. link in the body.
  • Do not editorialize titles. Preserve the original title when possible; edits for clarity are fine.
  • Do not post ragebait or shock stories. These will be removed.
  • Do not post tabloid or blogspam stories. These will be removed.
  • Social media should be a source of last resort.

These guidelines will be enforced on a know-it-when-I-see-it basis.


For US News, see the US News community.


This community’s icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

  • 1 user online
  • 11 users / day
  • 54 users / week
  • 166 users / month
  • 648 users / 6 months
  • 1 subscriber
  • 2.74K Posts
  • 15.1K Comments
  • Modlog