Cyana
Cyana was built by Jacques Cousteau and was later transferred to CNEXO (now
IFREMER). Raymond Kientzy, who was one of the early chief pilots on board the
submersible, proposed the name Cyana for this small vessel. It is able to dive to
depths of about 3,500 m and was first operational during the FAMOUS project in
1974 (Fig. 3.2). Cyana is smaller than Alvin, since it weighs only 8.5 tons and it is
5.1 m long and 2.7 m high. The submersible carries one observer, plus a pilot and
a co-pilot. All the French submersibles carry two pilots and only one observer. The
French submersible group has always been hesitant about carrying two scientists
during their dives because they want to use dive time in order to train new pilots
who could also help the observer and the pilot inside the sphere. This policy is
based on the inexperience of most scientific observers who would probably be
unable to handle the various pieces of equipment found on board, in the event of an
emergency, or even during normal diving missions.
Both, Alvin and Cyana have two manipulating arms. The portholes of Cyana
are slightly inclined which make observations easier and this engine is therefore
more efficient for conducting geological exploration than the Alvin. In addition,
Cyana is the best engine for observation because it has the advantage of taking a
tilt of about 458. On a vertical slope the observer can request that the submersible
be inclined so he can get closer to the target than in other manned submersibles.
After about 30 years of diving operations, Cyana is no longer being used, however
this submersible participated in numerous projects in the Atlantic, such as
FAMOUS, and in the Pacific, discovering hydrothermal deposits on the sea floor.
Because of the high cost of maintaining and running two submersibles, Cyana was
increasingly less assigned to scientific missions until it was declassified and retired
in the year 2000.
Nautile
The Nautile was constructed by the French Navy in Toulon and became operational in 1982. It is operated by IFREMER and GENAVIR (GEstion NAVIR). In
December 1983, a letter was sent to ask members of the French research community about their ideas for a name to be given to the new submersible that was
simply called SM 97 when first constructed. Various people submitted about 51
propositions for a name for the new submersible. The name ‘‘Nautile’’ was suggested by Claude Riffaud (and it refers both to Jules Verne’s book ‘‘20,000
Leagues Under the Sea’’ as well as to a shellfish called a nautilus). However the
name Nautile is also an acronym for ‘‘Navire Abyssal d’Utilisation Technologique
d’Intervention Légère et d’Exploration’’. The submersible can dive up to 6,000 m
deep, which enables it to descend to 97 % of the ocean floor. 6,000 m depth
corresponds to a pressure of 600 bars equal to about 0.7 tons of weight
Cyana
63
Cyana was built by Jacques Cousteau and was later transferred to CNEXO (now
IFREMER). Raymond Kientzy, who was one of the early chief pilots on board the
submersible, proposed the name Cyana for this small vessel. It is able to dive to
depths of about 3,500 m and was first operational during the FAMOUS project in
1974 (Fig. 3.2). Cyana is smaller than Alvin, since it weighs only 8.5 tons and it is
5.1 m long and 2.7 m high. The submersible carries one observer, plus a pilot and
a co-pilot. All the French submersibles carry two pilots and only one observer. The
French submersible group has always been hesitant about carrying two scientists
during their dives because they want to use dive time in order to train new pilots
who could also help the observer and the pilot inside the sphere. This policy is
based on the inexperience of most scientific observers who would probably be
unable to handle the various pieces of equipment found on board, in the event of an
emergency, or even during normal diving missions.
Both, Alvin and Cyana have two manipulating arms. The portholes of Cyana
are slightly inclined which make observations easier and this engine is therefore
more efficient for conducting geological exploration than the Alvin. In addition,
Cyana is the best engine for observation because it has the advantage of taking a
tilt of about 458. On a vertical slope the observer can request that the submersible
be inclined so he can get closer to the target than in other manned submersibles.
After about 30 years of diving operations, Cyana is no longer being used, however
this submersible participated in numerous projects in the Atlantic, such as
FAMOUS, and in the Pacific, discovering hydrothermal deposits on the sea floor.
Because of the high cost of maintaining and running two submersibles, Cyana was
increasingly less assigned to scientific missions until it was declassified and retired
in the year 2000.
Nautile
The Nautile was constructed by the French Navy in Toulon and became operational in 1982. It is operated by IFREMER and GENAVIR (GEstion NAVIR). In
December 1983, a letter was sent to ask members of the French research community about their ideas for a name to be given to the new submersible that was
simply called SM 97 when first constructed. Various people submitted about 51
propositions for a name for the new submersible. The name ‘‘Nautile’’ was suggested by Claude Riffaud (and it refers both to Jules Verne’s book ‘‘20,000
Leagues Under the Sea’’ as well as to a shellfish called a nautilus). However the
name Nautile is also an acronym for ‘‘Navire Abyssal d’Utilisation Technologique
d’Intervention Légère et d’Exploration’’. The submersible can dive up to 6,000 m
deep, which enables it to descend to 97 % of the ocean floor. 6,000 m depth
corresponds to a pressure of 600 bars equal to about 0.7 tons of weight
Cyana
63