Design guidelines for science equipment integration on MBARI vessels and ROVs
Moorings designs — ROVs and vertical mooring expressions are not an ideal operational mix due to the potential hazards for the ROV umbilical. In the unfortunate situation that an acoustic release does not function and an ROV is required to intervene, a sacrificial section must be added to the mooring design below the acoustic releases. This cuttable section should typically be a minimum of three to four feet long and made of rope, cable, or if required, a maximum grade 30 3/8-inch diameter non-harden chain. A combination of these cuttable strength members should also be considered if the mooring will be deployed in shallow, dynamic subsea environments as it gives the ROV operators flexibility for tooling options. Keep in mind when selecting an option that chain is the least desirable strength member since it is the most difficult to cut and harshest on tooling.
Note: Half-inch diameter chain from the M1 series moorings should not be used.
Equipment design for offshore use on MBARI vessels —
The Division of Marine Operations typically uses engineering safety guidelines developed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), USCG and UNOLS. When designing moorings, experiments or providing deck equipment for use on MBARI vessels, the owner shall design or provide equipment that incorporates these standards for safety factors and best practices.
Any questions regarding these standards can be addressed by MBARI Engineering or Marine Operations departments.
References
ABS – see Section 19 for Handling Systems
