DEPLOYMENT AND RETRIEVAL OF SEABED DEVICE

摘要

A method of deploying a device on the seabed. The device is towed behind an undersea vehicle with a flexible tether, generating hydrodynamic lift with the device as it is towed behind the vehicle. The vehicle is decelerated the vehicle so that the hydrodynamic lift reduces and the towed device sinks to the seabed. The device can also be retrieved from the seabed by pulling the device off the seabed with the flexible tether and towing the device away from the seabed. The device may be a sensor node for acquiring seismic data from the seabed, with at least one seismic sensor; means for generating hydrodynamic lift as the sensor node moves through the water; one or more coupling devices for coupling the sensor node to the seabed so that the seismic sensor can acquire seismic data from the seabed; and a flexible tether for towing the node through the water. The device is towed by a submersible vehicle with an annular hull; a flexible tether for towing an object behind the vehicle; and a harness coupling the tether to the annular hull. The harness has two or more flexible harness lines which are coupled at one end to the hull and at the other end to the tether. The harness lines are coupled to the hull at different points round the circumference of the duct.