Diving Craft and Platforms

6-28 Change A U.S. Navy Diving Manual—Volume 2 6-8.2 Air Supply. The quality of diver’s breathing air is vitally important. Air supplies provided to the diver in tanks or through a compressor shall meet five basic criteria. 1. Air shall conform to standards for diving air purity found in sections 4-3 and 4-4. 2. Flow to the diver must be sufficient. Refer to the appropriate equipment oper- ations and maintenance manual for flow requirements. 3. Adequate overbottom pressure shall be maintained at the dive station. 4. Adequate air supply shall be available to support the duration and depth of the dive (see paragraph 7-4.1 for scuba; paragraph 8-2.2 for MK 21). 5. A secondary air supply shall be available for surface-supplied diving. 6-8.3 Diving Craft and Platforms. Regardless of the technique being supported, craft used for diving operations shall: Be seaworthy Include required lifesaving and other safety gear Have a reliable engine (unless it is a moored platform or barge) Provide ample room for the divers to dress Provide adequate shelter and working area for the support crew Be able to carry safely all equipment required for the operation Have a well-trained crew Other support equipment—including barges, tugs, floating cranes or vessels and aircraft for area search—may be needed, depending on the type of operation. The need for additional equipment should be anticipated as far in advance as possible. 6-8.3.1 Deep-Sea Salvage/Rescue Diving Platforms. Auxiliary Rescue/Salvage Ship (ARS) (Safeguard Class). The mission of the ARS ship is to assist disabled ships, debeach stranded vessels, fight fires alongside other ships, lift heavy objects, recover submerged objects, tow other vessels, and perform manned diving operations. The ARS class ships carry a complement of divers to perform underwater ship husbandry tasks and salvage operations as well as underwater search and recovery. This class of vessel is equipped for all air diving techniques. Onboard equipment allows diving with air to a depth of 190 fsw. Submarine Tender (AS). U.S. submarine tenders are designed specifically for servicing nuclear-powered submarines. Submarine tenders are fitted with a recompression chamber used for hyperbaric treatments. Submarine tenders support underwater ship husbandry and maintenance and security swims.