Vladivostok scientists got huge number of orders for deep-sea submersibles

16.11.2010 Scientists of Vladivostok won a big package of orders for deep-sea submersibles, reported RIA Novosti referring to Leonid Naumov, Far East Institute of Marine Technology, director.

"Our institute got numerous orders for deep-sea submersibles. Offers of cooperation have come from Russia and various foreign countries including European ones. However, the contracts conditions forbid us to disclose any countries and companies", said the interviewee.

According to him, the scale of worldwide deep-sea explorations has been growing year by year for the recent 20 years. In this context, the need for submersibles capable to search undersea resources increases both in Russia and abroad. This directly affects the number of orders coming to the institute, since it is specialized in deep-water equipment.

"Primarily, submersibles are used for search and surveys of mineral deposits. Except for oil and gas, gas-hydrate deposits become increasingly popular as potential alternative energy sources", pointed out the interviewee.

He said that almost all known land deposits of fuel have been already explored, so to develop and exist, global community turns to hardly accessible underwater deposits.

It is expected that in the not-distant future major part of fuel resources will be taken from the sea bosom.

"As for today, our institute receives more offers than it can execute, so we have to sift. The decision of which foreign orders should be implemented is made by Rosoboronexport, the state transactor in all arms exports and imports", underlined the interviewee.

He reminded that the latest trials of submersibles were held in Oct. Deep-sea submersible Pilgrim designed by the institute for Russian EMERCOM was shown to reporters. The unique hardware capable to dive down to 3 km helps rescuers to find mines, radioactive elements and other hazardous objects.