The UK-based developers of Scubacraft, an innovative convertible speedboat/submarine, believe their invention could be the ideal vessel for offshore wind farm maintenance operations.

Scubacraft uses proprietary technology that allows it to transform its buoyancy from a floating craft into a streamlined submersible. The vessel is powered on the surface by a combustion engine and underwater by electric thrusters and batteries. Before submerging, occupants must don standard scuba-diving equipment.

The vessel can ride the waves at up to 80 km/h and submerge to 50 meters. Image credit: Scubacraft.The submersible boat is able to carry up to six people and a large amount of equipment. It is available in six combinations (three or six people and standard, all-electric and carbon-fiber versions), can ride the waves at up to 80 km/h and submerge to 50 meters in its most advanced version. The vessel's built-in equipment includes an integrated GPS and dive computer, an on-board air supply with a reserve and integrated storage and equipment racks.

"Currently, underwater inspections involve human divers carrying inspection equipment below the sea surface," notes Scubacraft spokesman James Brown. "Divers can realistically spend up to 10 minutes at 40 meters below sea level before they need to begin their ascension to the surface due to the limited amount of available oxygen. This means that a defect in the structure being repaired could potentially be missed due to the insufficient time spent performing the inspection."

Beyond wind turbine maintenance, the company believes the vessel is also suited to marine conservation and search-and-rescue operations, as the use of a submersible boat could accelerate operations and maximize efficiency. Once the underwater activity has been performed, the vessel could then re-emerge above sea level and travel at high speed on the surface to return to shore.