Projects
PC 1805 - Diver Lock Out Submersible
PC1805 was the last manned submersible built by Perry Submarine Builders (now Perry Slingsby Systems and Lockheed-Martin Perry) of Riviera Beach, Florida and as such represents the culmination of their experience in building manned submersibles. PC1805 was completed in 1982 and delivered in the fall of that year to the Shell Exploration and Production Company (Shell Expro) of Aberdeen, Scotland. The submersible was sold to Shell Expro in Aberdeen for US$ 3.2 million.
Shortly after PC1805 arrived in the UK, it was mobilized aboard the world's largest diving support vessel - The MSV STADIVE. A complex launch and recovery system (LARS) was built aboard the STADIVE to enable the launch of the submersible in rough weather conditions. In addition, an elaborate rail and track system interfaced PC1805 with the 24-man saturation diving system aboard STADIVE.
PC1805 was built to support the offshore oil and gas industry and specifically activities on the underwater manifold center (UMC) in the North Sea. The UMC is a cooperative venture between several oil companies that consolidates supply from several areas for distribution to shore. The UMC is essentially a massive underwater oil distribution center equipped with a central corridor for maintenance and repair.
When necessary, PC1805 would be launched from the MSV Stadive, approach the UMC and fly the UMC central corridor to the area in need of maintenance and repair. Divers would lock out from the submersible and work on the UMC with PC1805 providing breathing gas, hot water, communication, refuge, lighting and hydraulics for two six-function manipulators and a wide assortment of tools powered by the Deep Submarine Work Package (DSWP) fitted to the submersible.
PC1805 is currently in storage at the facility where it was originally manufactured on 17th street in Riviera Beach, Florida. A principal at DSA acquired the submersible in 1989 and proceeded to conduct a major refit on the boat in order to prepare for a planned operation on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. The operation was never established and the submersible was transported back to Perry in 1991. Aside from some dive made for NOAA in 1992 the vessel has not been used.
DSA is planning to restore PC1805 to active service in much the same way as we have just done with PC1201. We are confident the additional payload, crew and flexibility of the diver lock out capability of this unique submersible will be attractive to those in the scientific community, which currently depend on technical divers to conduct much of their moderate depth work. PC1805 is capable of observation diving to 1,000 feet (305m) and diver lock out work to 650 feet (200m).
