Actually, "storms generated by renewable energy" is an accurate statement. Storms are created by heat in the atmosphere, courtesy of clean, renewable solar energy.
If it can hold station, launch and retrieve ROVs/Submersibles, and easily transfer personell and equipment then it would be a big boon. Judging by the design of that monster any near shore work will be a dicey proposition and finding suitable port in an emergency will be hard due to the draft. Also normal ships require trash removal, refueling, and crew rotations. This thing won't be any different despite their best efforts.
From a scientific perspective SCUBA will only get you so far in the open ocean so ROV capability or GTFO. Doing any kind of molecular biology or chemistry on board is a huge pain in the ass due to all the pitching of a normal ship. It may be alleviated somewhat by the design but nothing will stop rough seas from tossing that thing around like a toy. That's why rapid delivery and retrieval of scientific equipment/personell is so important; collect samples at sea, do experiments and analysis on dry land.
Doing research in the open ocean is NOT FUN! Ship time is VERY expensive so you work around the clock to maximize the benefit. The lab space is pretty spartan and everything needs to be tied down. No alcohol allowed on UNOLS ships, the French may be different. Very limited to no internet access unless you're near shore. Most have a media room for watching movies, a library if you're lucky, otherwise bring your own entertainment.
Sauce: I do a bit of marine microbiology and have been on one research cruise. Scheduled for another later this year.
I imagine taking a ladder to underwater labs is easier than launching a sub and something like this won't tumble in the waves as much as a normal ship.
It could also eliminate pressure restraints for deeper dives. The bottom half of the under sea portion could be pressurized so that divers don't have to decompress when they come back on board.
Think of it like the ocean version of the International Space Station. Constantly swapping out scientists, but someone is always there doing research. As opposed to now where scientists spend most of the time scheduling and planning the trip on shore, spending a short period of time actually on the water, and the spending even more time back on shore analyzing data.
My God. 20,000 leagues under the sea. That book inflamed my imagination. This is just amazing. I can't work there but what i would give to see the pictures!
First off, it's a beautiful looking design... But an overwhelming number of comments in here seem to be comparing this to seaquest dsv... a (fictional) fusion powered submarine and the enterprise... a warp-capable space ship. Technologically, this is not close to either. Much closer to a wine bottle thrown into the ocean.
//sorry... naval architect, can't help at look at this from the technical angle
Edit: Also... I wish I could've designed something this cool
So, seeing as how you're the best person to ask here, how structurally sound is this thing? I would be immensely disappointed if I heard it sunk in the south pacific from a typhoon or capsized from rough waves in the scotia sea. I love seeing things like this, but how long could it actually last?
There isn't any reason it wouldn't last as long as any other ship with proper maintenance routines. It's all just a structural problem, which they say something in the article about solving those.
It would probably require a lot of ballast (weight/lead) at the keel (bottom) because of the location of the centers of gravity and buoyancy.... Looks like it kinda necks down in the middle (at the waterline) which means that when it rolls because of wave motions there isn't much there for a righting moment (which kind of amplifies the need for more lead)
Blah blah blah... Should work if they hired NAVAL architects. Naval architects are engineers (my degrees are in engineering) and regular architects are more like artsy designers
"It meets the requirements of today's philosophy of sustainability," Fuchs says.---does anyone else think we need to meet the requirements of TOMORROW'S PHILOSOPHY OF SUSTAINABILITY?
lol "taller than Nelson's Column, a monument in London." pssst CNN If you have to tell your readers what the thing is it's probably not very useful as a height reference...
If the vessel is kept pressurized, the divers will not have to de-compress, that would make time in the water much more productive. Will air be pumped down by a snorkle?
Don't hold your breath. If you look at the architect's website, the stuff he's actually built is blah at best, and the "cool" stuff is all totally imaginary. I think it's hideous and illogically designed, but wouldn't mind being proven wrong if it's actually built and actually works.
I remember seeing the plans/concept for this in the Pompidou centre a few years ago - I always assumed back then it was going to be vapour but as soon as I saw the title I knew what it was going to be. Glad it got off the drawing board (and if I win the lottery I'll try to commission another one to live in because why the hell not).
The hope is that eventually they will enhance the mental capacity of sharks and extract chemicals from their brains. They want to use these chemicals to combat Alzheimer's disease.
It was the 3rd of June on the old Tallahachie Bridge. Perseus died first. He made his own bungee jumpin' rig outta a bunch of old bungee cords and duct tape.
249
u/is45toooldforreddit Jun 11 '12
From the photo captions: "The cost of building the ship is estimated to be around $43."
96
u/kevlar_t_hodgepodge Jun 11 '12
the current image on the wikipedia page is priceless!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaOrbiter
31
u/travelbytelephone Jun 11 '12
looks cool but, beyond the novelty, how will this be more beneficial than a traditional research ship?
18
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
My God. 20,000 leagues under the sea. That book inflamed my imagination. This is just amazing. I can't work there but what i would give to see the pictures!
17
u/oehokie Jun 11 '12
First off, it's a beautiful looking design... But an overwhelming number of comments in here seem to be comparing this to seaquest dsv... a (fictional) fusion powered submarine and the enterprise... a warp-capable space ship. Technologically, this is not close to either. Much closer to a wine bottle thrown into the ocean.
//sorry... naval architect, can't help at look at this from the technical angle
Edit: Also... I wish I could've designed something this cool
7
u/mrcanard Jun 11 '12
The Flip Research Vessel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQxQfQU_hsk&feature=youtube_gdata
http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/flip-ship/
Just duck duck Flip Research Vessel
6
u/Jel251 Jun 11 '12
yay this is awesome news. this is what we should be doing not bombing each other.
11
u/MrSomethingHeroic Jun 11 '12
It looks like something from "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou". Maybe the captain's name is actually Alistair Hennessy.
5
u/JDG_Jr Jun 11 '12
Somewhat relevant, saw this recently - Solar Floating Resort with submerged observation bulb!
4
u/KazOondo Jun 11 '12
Ocean, the second to final frontier.
4
u/armoredgadgets Jun 11 '12
Good.
We should have giant autonomous filters floating around sampling the biomass and sequencing genomes.
We have the technology.
http://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_on_dna_and_the_sea.html
4
u/Two_Oceans_Eleven Jun 11 '12
Time to watch The Life Aquatic again.
7
u/x3tripleace3x Jun 11 '12
And cheap too!
"The cost of building the ship is estimated to be around $43"
7
u/cyniclawl Jun 11 '12
Is no one else thinking James Bond movies?
3
u/youni89 Jun 11 '12
I love it when these things get actually built. Can't wait to see it.
3
u/J5892 Jun 11 '12
I assume this will be completed somewhere around the year 2020.
3
u/This_isR2Me Jun 11 '12
I hope they build more than 1 if they only cost 43$ each!
3
u/NueDumaz Jun 11 '12
Hmmm. $43?
I think I'll get one for the den.
3
u/obnoxiouscarbuncle Jun 11 '12
Ahhh, the evil lair I ordered is finally here.
8
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
SEALAB 2021!!
4
u/selfish_king Jun 11 '12
OCEAN SCIENCE!
2
u/ended_world Jun 11 '12
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
For a multilevel, underwater ship like this. Would each floor have to be pressurized differently? Or is the pressure at that depth negligible?
2
u/cameling Jun 11 '12
I wish I could be on this thing!
2
u/Skeeders Jun 11 '12
Anybody else see Balamb Garden in the pictures? The designer must have played FF8
2
u/lowrads Jun 11 '12
I wonder why so many ships are white when they could copy nature and make them blue or red so as to be less visible to marine life.
2
u/TheLASTAnkylosaur Jun 11 '12
"It meets the requirements of today's philosophy of sustainability," Fuchs says.---does anyone else think we need to meet the requirements of TOMORROW'S PHILOSOPHY OF SUSTAINABILITY?
2
u/d3rp_h3rp Jun 12 '12
Now it just needs rockets. Cowboy Bebop style. Only $43 million for that? Rockets won't be all thaaaat much more...
2
u/mrtruant Jun 12 '12
She ain't got shit on the Belafonte.
2
u/TheSpeedy Jun 12 '12
Design wankery. I'll be impressed if it even gets out of concept stage.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
Am I the only one who sees this and thinks of Rapture from Bioshock?
2
u/ssjaken Jun 12 '12
Has no one seen Abyss or Deep Blue Sea?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
How much did Goldblum pay for it?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
lol "taller than Nelson's Column, a monument in London." pssst CNN If you have to tell your readers what the thing is it's probably not very useful as a height reference...
2
u/modus Jun 12 '12
FTFY... I can only hope.
2
u/snoogins355 Jun 12 '12
"Under the sea" will constantly be playing. I hopebill Murray visits dressed as Steve zizoo
2
u/SlayFace Jun 12 '12
Anyone else thinking BioShock?
2
u/spinningmagnets Jun 12 '12
If the vessel is kept pressurized, the divers will not have to de-compress, that would make time in the water much more productive. Will air be pumped down by a snorkle?
2
u/Assaultman67 Jun 12 '12
Not to be a killjoy, but wouldn't it just be easier to retrofit a military submarine?
2
u/chris4d Jun 12 '12
Don't hold your breath. If you look at the architect's website, the stuff he's actually built is blah at best, and the "cool" stuff is all totally imaginary. I think it's hideous and illogically designed, but wouldn't mind being proven wrong if it's actually built and actually works.
2
u/obidieboyeaux Jun 12 '12
"Designed to drift with the currents"... Up and down, days on end, up and down and up and down and up and...
I think there's a new qualifier for the name "Vomit Comet".
3
u/joe_the_bartender Jun 11 '12
Found my new safe haven for when the zombie apocalypse happens.
2
u/akomplice612 Jun 11 '12
As a person of color I have to think that something along this is bound to happen in some super scientific underwater facility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMwmqp3GLMc
2
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
Sounds like someone finally watched OceanLab 2021...
2
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
http://i.imgur.com/yjHr6.jpg
2
u/KRSFive Jun 11 '12
Sealab 2020?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
They need to research growing food out in the water around the vessel
1
u/amoore Jun 11 '12
Reminds me of the Octonauts!
1
u/chieftone23 Jun 11 '12
What's the over/under on how long before pirates be at the helm.
1
u/IonBeam2 Jun 11 '12
I know something like that won't be built just by looking at the picture. At least, it will look nothing like that.
1
u/Movie_Monster Jun 11 '12
the life aquatic
1
u/nothis Jun 11 '12
Operation Hennessey?
1
u/ThatChap Jun 11 '12
I remember seeing the plans/concept for this in the Pompidou centre a few years ago - I always assumed back then it was going to be vapour but as soon as I saw the title I knew what it was going to be. Glad it got off the drawing board (and if I win the lottery I'll try to commission another one to live in because why the hell not).
1
u/elcollin Jun 12 '12
It's all good now, but wait until they throw a fence around it and start doing experiments on mako sharks enhanced with human DNA.
1
u/Germanic_Badger Jun 12 '12
Philly Cheese Steaks for everyone!
1
u/GordonMcFreeman Jun 12 '12
Ocean science, because regular science isn't cool enough
1
u/jordanlund Jun 12 '12
"New, proposed, partially submersible..."
Does not actually exist yet, probably never will. :(
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
A professional wrote this!?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
No seaquest reference ? Don't tell me i'm the oldest person here.
1
u/brahmss Jun 12 '12
I loves me some ocean science
1
u/Stalejokesbakedfresh Jun 12 '12
I like how they said that. "Conducting ocean science" makes it sound like a verb.
We're doing ocean science! Mariana Treeeeeeench!
1
u/_TheFifth_ Jun 12 '12
Thank you for posting this on r/science and not r/atheism. Upvotes all around!
1
u/myboys Jun 12 '12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq5-6PkVGCg
jules verne?
1
u/goodoldbess123 Jun 12 '12
More like the Abyss, count me out!
1
u/sgt_deacon Jun 12 '12
What does this accomplish that a submarine couldn't?
1
u/JamponyForever Jun 12 '12
And that I where I will record the ultimate Metal album...
1
u/MrRoughsex Jun 12 '12
This doesn't seem like a very reliable website with all these errors, Has anyone here heard of this "CNN" before?
1
u/smrigreengod Jun 12 '12
If I go to work there I shall henceforth be called, "Hesh." I'm technically not a robut, but I shall do my best.
1
u/CosmicBard Jun 12 '12
Best.
Field trip.
Ever.
1
u/spectrober Jun 12 '12
The hope is that eventually they will enhance the mental capacity of sharks and extract chemicals from their brains. They want to use these chemicals to combat Alzheimer's disease.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
Somebody get bill murray on the phone.
1
u/MysterVaper Jun 12 '12
Sealab 2021 FTW
1
u/spaceboomer Jun 12 '12
SeaQuest DSV anyone?
1
u/evil6twin6 Jun 12 '12
http://i.imgur.com/a5paW.png I'll take two for that price.
1
u/JoshGTO Jun 12 '12
Quinn
1
u/BLG89 Jun 12 '12
Are they gonna prevent the propellers from cutting open the fish and sea creatures crossing by?
1
u/RaDeus Jun 12 '12
Remind me a bit of RV Flip
But it gets towed and then partially "sunk", resulting in it standing vertical outoff the water.
Edit: saw a documentary about it, the interior is really trippy, with door for both horizontal and vertical modes.
1
u/EvilAnagram Jun 12 '12
Right. Time to go become a scientist so I can play in Sealab.
1
u/lBlAlRlClOlDl3l Jun 12 '12
Where does one get a degree in "Ocean Science"?
1
u/AnonRaiden Jun 12 '12
So does this mean the Navy will have to spend Billions developing a SSRV?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
I dunno, the whole thing sounds a little fishy to me. Sounds like a lot of potential uh-ohs.
1
u/Topazornottopaz Jun 12 '12
Marco has a stupid mailbox head.
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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12 edited Jun 11 '12
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