M/V Richard L. Becker Provides Support for
"Green" Submarine Testing Off Key West
The Sea Maverick is an unmanned submarine that is being developed by a group of scientists from the Penn State Applied Research Laboratory, The U.S. Department of Defense, The Office of Naval Research and The Joint Interagency Task Force South. The project is one that is noteworthy because of the "Green" approach that the team has taken on the project. The project is proof that U.S. Military planners are committed to developing technology that reduces stress on the environment while improving our countries ability to complete modern day missions.
The 5 million dollar Sea Maverick project is electrically powered resulting in no environmental impact due to exhaust gas emissions; it also has an advanced propeller system encased in a housing that prohibits damage to sea beds, and it uses pressurized air and water for buoyancy, which minimizes its interaction with the water around it. The Submarine is approximately 4 feet in diameter and can range from 25 to 36 feet long by adding or removing sections of the body depending on the mission. Although officials are tight lipped about the types of missions this submarine will be involved in, it is clear that the design will allow the vessel to operate with minimal remote interaction from shipboard operators. The design and subsequent testing is focused on insuring that the Sea Maverick has the ability to think on its own; it is not designed to carry weapons but does carry cameras, satellites and other gear that is classified at this time.
Recently, the Sea Maverick was transported to Key West Florida to undergo tests in the fragile Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary. The purpose of the testing was to insure that the sub did not cause any damage in this protected habitat along with a wide variety of tests to its general operating system. TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale was called in to assist with the operation. The company's 96' OSV Richard L. Becker was utilized to provide housing and meals for the team of engineers while shadowing the Sea Maverick. The vessels WiFi system allowed them to communicate real time with their landside counterparts which increased the efficiency of the two week test. The test was a success and the engineers have since moved on to the next stage of the Sea Mavericks development with the knowledge that they gained in Key West.
TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale owns and operates 12 vessels from 3 locations in Broward County Florida; each of these vessels is available for hourly, daily or long term charter. For more information call TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale at 954-783-7821.
