When valuable cargo or equipment finds itself lost at the bottom of the sea, hope may not be lost after all. Enter the ingenious solution – the diving bell ship, a specialized vessel designed for underwater recovery. Currently, patrolling Germany’s Rhine River, these ships employ a remarkable method to retrieve materials without a single worker getting wet.The Ingenious Operation of Diving Bell Ships
Diving bell ships operate by lowering a chamber to the sea floor using a shaft. Once submerged, a compressor evacuates water from the chamber, exposing the river bed. Workers then enter the chamber through a pressurized cabin, ensuring safety at the highly pressurized depths. Tasks range from material recovery to maintenance and even the removal of World War II ordnance.
Underwater Mastery
With only two diving bell ships in Europe, both active on the Rhine, Damen Shipyards employs vessels like the Carl Straat and its 2021 replacement, Archimedes. These ships, capable of working at depths up to 10 meters, tackle a range of activities, offering a glimpse into the historical yet cutting-edge world of underwater salvage.
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Source: MY MODERN MET
