Underwater research can take divers, ROV users and others into dangerous situations. While the rewards off diving in remote or abandoned locations can be exciting, the possible risks should make a research team think twice about the marine insurance they are using before the official start date. If the insurance they use is comprehensive, then operators may have more compensation ready in the wake of an accident.
A ship used for scientific endeavors needs to be capable of withstanding use during the entire duration of deployment. Here are three major factors that possibly affect the danger level of a research vessel:
- Location and range of use: Inland waterways and lakes are subject to different environmental conditions. For example, ships in the Great Lakes region have been struggling with heavy ice cover in recent years, meaning a research vessel in this area could have to anticipate this possibility.
- Number and purpose of crew onboard: Knowing how many crew members are onboard and their purpose to the mission will enable expedition managers to foresee concerns while the vessel is deployed. If the ship comes with facilities and labs, there will most likely be scientists designated to work at these posts.
- Size and strength: The durability of the research vessel's hull could influence how well it holds up in different bodies of water. The intense level of preparation needed to create a research ship for a specific purpose might have to include fortification and heavy-duty materials that keep it up to appropriate operating standards. Ships may also be used to transport other specialized scientific instruments, so they need to be able to carry these devices without putting them at risk.
Since they can be sent to different areas of the globe for their work, operators of research vessels may benefit from international marine insurance that suits their field.