 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Ictineu 3 |
| In service | 2013[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Deep-submergence vehicle |
| Tonnage | 5.3 tons |
| Length | 4.8 m (16 ft) |
| Beam | 1.9 m (6.2 ft) |
| Draft | 2.81 m (9.2 ft) |
| Installed power | 4 × 70Ah 120 VLi-ion batteries |
| Propulsion | 4 × 2.7 kW electric thrusters |
| Speed | 1.5 kn - 4.5 kn |
| Range | 18 km |
| Test depth | 1,200 m (3,900 ft)[2] |
| Complement | 3 |
Ictineu 3 is a crewedsubmersible capable of reaching depths of 1,200 m (3,900 ft), which makes it the ninth deepestsubmersible, owned by Ictineu submarins SL. Commissioned in 2013, the submersible can carry one pilot and two passengers for 10 hours using all the equipment.[2][clarification needed]
The small weight and dimensions of the submarine (4.8 × 1.9 × 3 m) allow the Ictineu 3 to be carried with a conventional truck without requiring special transportation. The main body is made ofinox steel and, at the front, there is a large semi-sphericacrylic glass viewport of 1,200 mm diameter that provides a wide field of view. There are fourbrushless DC motors for propulsion and four more for manoeuvring, powered byli-ion batteries located outside the submersible for safety.
Its applications range from submarinearchaeology to industrial work, and it is specially designed to be easy to adapt to new technology and equipment, having additional ports for wires, sensors and tools. It can also be equipped with a couple ofrobotic arms with sevendegrees of freedom to interact with the external environment.[3]
Ictineu 3 was finished in 2013 after 10 years of development and a 3 M€ budget acquired fromcrowdfunding, public subsidies and private investors. The nameIctineu 3 pays tribute to the submarinesIctineo I andIctineo II, developed by the Catalan submarine pioneerNarcís Monturiol during the 19th century.[4]
The project was originally pitched by theAssociació Institut Centre Català de Recerca Submarina and registered in February 2006.[5] The submersible was designed and built byIctineu Submarins S.L. under the direction of engineers Pere Fornès and Carme Paradera. The construction began in a workshop provided by theMaritime Museum of Barcelona[6] but was later moved to dedicated facilities acquired by the company inSant Feliu de Llobregat.Germanischer Lloyd SE provided the necessary certification upon completion.
The whole project was widely promoted and relied oncrowdfunding in order to reach the necessary goals. The starting petition was for €60,000 and the money was collected via Verkami.[7]
Media related toIctineu 3 at Wikimedia Commons
