Moon pool
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Other names | Wet porch, wet room, wet bell |
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Uses | Protected access to the water for divers from a vessel, floating platform or underwater habitat |
A moon pool is an equipment deployment and retrieval feature used by
Moon pools also provide shelter and protection so that even if the
Moon pools can be used in chambers below sea level, especially for the use of
Origins
Moon pools were first used in the
The Glomar Explorer
The Hughes Glomar Explorer was a 50,500 long tons (51,300 t), 619-foot-long (189 m) ship constructed by the United States in the early 1970s for the recovery of a sunken Soviet submarine from the Pacific seabed. The design of the ship was broadly inspired by oil drilling ships and included a moon pool measuring 199 by 74 by 65 feet (61 m × 23 m × 20 m), into which the submarine was to be recovered, with the bottom of the moon pool then closed off by two gates that would allow the recovered vessel to be examined under cover and in dry conditions. This was a singular use of a moon pool and also possibly the largest dedicated moon pool constructed to date.
In underwater habitats
Very deep moon pools are used in underwater habitats—submerged chambers used by divers engaged in underwater research, exploration, marine salvage, and recreation. In this case, shown in part D of the diagram, there is no dry access between the chamber and the sea surface, and the moon pool is the only entry or exit to the chamber. Submerged chambers provide dry areas for work and rest without the need to ascend to the surface.[6] This kind of submerged chamber uses the same principles as the diving bell, except they are fixed to the seafloor and may be called a wet porch, wet room, or wet bell. Sometimes the term moon pool is used to mean the complete chamber, not just the opening in the bottom and the air–water interface.
The alternative to a moon pool in an underwater habitat is the
Examples of underwater habitats with moon pools
In fishing vessels
Moon pools are becoming increasingly used on longline fishing vessels to allow for hauling of the gear in worse weather conditions. They also reduce the exposure of fish to air, improving quality. Along with bird scaring lines, shooting and hauling gear from a moon pool reduces the risk of fish falling off or being predated by birds.[9]
Gallery of types
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Cross-section of an open moon pool above the waterline, in a catamaran or a semi-submersible platform
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An open moon pool at the waterline, in a ship or floating structure
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A moon pool below the waterline in an airtight chamber, in a ship or floating structure
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A moon pool below the waterline in an airtight submerged chamber
See also
- Diving bell – Chamber for transporting divers vertically through the water
- Diving support vessel – Ship used as a floating base for professional diving projects
- Underwater habitat – Human habitable underwater enclosure filled with breathable gas
References
- ^ "Scientific moon pool". British Antarctic Survey - National Environment Research Council. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
- ^ Sajjan, Sharanabasappa (June 2020). "Experimental Investigation of Moonpool shapes on a Ship with Forward Speed". Annual of Navigation – via Research Gate.
- ^ "Moonpool". REV Ocean. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- S2CID 233855098– via Taylor and Francis Online.
- ^ "Moon Pool". Schlumberger. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ Gregory Stone: "Deep Science". Archived 2007-10-17 at the Wayback Machine National Geographic Online Extra (Sept 2003). Retrieved 29 July 2007.
- ^ US Navy: Naval Undersea Museum SEALAB page Archived 2004-12-15 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 1 August 2007.
- ^ "Aquarius Undersea Laboratory". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Long Line". Seafish Fishing Gear Database. Retrieved November 20, 2023.