Even a submersible may need help from an underwater vehicle, especially if that submersible finds itself stranded on the bottom of the ocean and in need of some recovery from researchers above the the waves. Nevermind the protections given to the craft: what about the ROV insurance necessary when taking on any underwater mission of this nature?
As National Geographic states, scientists based on Hawaii have located the wreck of the I-400, a Japanese submarine left behind in the Pacific Ocean more than 65 years ago. It appears to have been part of a key mission during World War II and represents a critical find, one of only three of its kind manufactured to help the war effort for the Axis.
This vehicle represents a significant part of military history, seeing as both its scarcity and high mileage distinguish it. Reportedly it had been discovered after the war, along with four other submarines, but sunk in the looming paranoia of the political tensions in the encroaching 1950's.
A press release from the University of Hawaii quotes Terry Kerby of the Hawaii Underwater Research Laboratory on the true importance of this discovery.
"Finding it where we did was totally unexpected," Kerby said. "All our research pointed to it being further out to sea. The multi-beam anomalies that appear on a bottom survey chart can be anything from wrecks to rocks—you don't know until you go there. Jim and Hans and I knew we were approaching what looked like a large wreck on our sonar."
ROV operators insurance needs to be correctly anticipated and applied in these situations. Working with a reputable specialist in the field can help organizations secure the right coverage.