What are private submarines?
Private submarines are essentially smaller, personal versions of large military submarines. They are for people who can afford to have an underwater experience without being surrounded by strangers in a big submarine with small portholes. The private submersibles generally accommodate between two and 12 passengers in addition to the pilot, depending on the size of the submarine.
What things do private submarines have?
Private submarines usually have all the amenities that a normal passenger submarine would have, plus some special features only available in a personal sub. For example, they generally have a toilet and full pressurization, which allows passengers to go up and down without needing decompression stops. The smaller ones might even have an entertainment system with large flat-screen TVs so you can watch TV or movies while cruising around on the bottom of the sea. Some larger models might also be able to host live streams from cameras mounted outside, so everyone inside can see what is going on outside the sub.
How much do they cost?
Smaller models for between two and six people cost a few million dollars, and midsize models for between six and ten people can go up to around $20 million.
Large private submarines that can fit more than 16 people generally cost as much as a small airplane, i.e., millions of dollars. Of course, you also have to pay for the crew salaries and maintenance fees.
How fast do they go?
In general, smaller ones with only two or three people on board are slightly faster than your average passenger submarine because they have smaller diameter hulls. They cut through the water better without creating large waves that disturb passengers inside. They usually travel at about five knots – 7 mph – but some larger models with only four or five people on board can go as fast as ten knots – about 10 mph.
How long can they stay underwater?
This varies widely depending on the size of the sub and how many people are inside, but generally, smaller subs with only two or three people on board can stay submerged for up to 12 hours. Larger midsize models for between six and ten passengers might stay underwater for up to 24 hours, and large private submarines that can fit more than 16 people usually have enough battery power to stay underwater for 48 hours at a time. Of course, these times also depend on how deep you want to go – the deeper you go, the faster your batteries drain – so if you want to travel extremely far without surfacing (and thus exposing your sub to surveillance or detection), then you might want to consider having multiple oxygen tanks onboard.
What are the dangers of private submarines?
The main danger with condominium submarines is that they might collide with something underwater, like another ship or a rock formation, which could cause the sub to implode or collapse. This can be avoided if you have sonar on board, which detects objects in the water ahead of time and alerts the pilot to take evasive maneuvers before impact. Another danger is getting stuck inside if there is an external malfunction – for example, if all four doors suddenly open at once while underwater, it could create a powerful suction effect that would prevent people from closing them again without being crushed against the door frame. But if there is a mechanism in place to close all doors simultaneously, you should be fine.
Is it hard to drive?
It might seem counterintuitive, but in many ways, private subs are easier to drive than public ones because you only have one person in the cabin. This means that no matter how crowded it gets inside, at least one person always has access to the control room and can steer the sub when needed. It also takes much less time to get up to speed or slow down compared with larger subs with multiple crew members because it can go just as fast as its motors will allow, no matter who is driving it. However, learning how to handle these craft does require extensive training because of their high speeds and extreme sensitivity to changes in movement and currents.
Who uses them?
The most common users of private submarines are wealthy entrepreneurs and celebrities – especially those who don’t mind flaunting their wealth or who enjoy extreme experiences like deep-sea diving or scuba expeditions. Politicians, such as the former Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, have also been known to use private subs for official trips abroad because it is a faster way to travel than by plane and they can be outfitted with the latest high-tech surveillance equipment (a top-of-the-line Private Submarine costs about as much as a black helicopter). However, because of all these safety concerns we tend to see more accidents involving public rather than submersibles – which makes it harder for the public to get excited about them.
0 Comments