Imagine a compact, high-speed craft capable of shooting across the surface on retractable hydrofoils, before plunging 50m beneath the surface to function like a mini-sub. That’s the concept behind the design of the DeepSeaker, an electric submersible hydrofoil vehicle developed by Italian start-up iSpace2o. Measuring 5.5m x 1.8m, pressurised to 1ATM and featuring a gross weight of 3,500kg, the DeepSeaker (currently the DS2 model, an evolution of the earlier DS1) features an internal, carbon-built cockpit, positioned in a steel ribcage and then covered with a thermoplastic body, to provide durable protection for the interior, even if the boat impacts with another vessel or object. The interior is laid out to accommodate up to four passengers, seated in a ‘2+2’ car-style configuration.
As such, the DeepSeaker can be lauched from a superyacht and piloted towards sites rich with fauna and flora (where the yacht’s diesel engines may not be welcome), before retracting its hydrofoils and submerging to explore the seabed, for example. To this end, boat is equipped with a digital dashboard featuring iPad connectors, Go-Pro cameras and hydrophones, allowing the occupants to listen to the marine mammals outside, and to capture footage of these memorable sights.
The DeepSeaker’s propulsion is provided by dual 210kW DeepSpeed pods, supplied by Sealence. Both pods are attached outside the hull (specifically, to the back end foil) and incorporate electric jets for minimum turbulence and wake. The DeepSeaker is a 100% electric vehicle, powered by Li-ion batteries that offer six to eight hours of craft autonomy. The long-term plan, though, is for the craft to be fuelled by hydrogen.
With its hydrofoils deployed, the DeepSeaker managed to attain 52knots within six seconds during a trial of the DS1 version. However, Giuseppe Carusi, iSpace2o CEO, tells Ship & Boat International: “With two motors, we may easily exceed the 52knots mark, but they are primarily intended for redundancy: we intend to limit the speed for safety reasons.” There is also battery charge life to consider, and so a foiling speed of 25knots has been deemed more practical. When the end user does fancy a white-knuckle ride, speeds of 35knots+ are possible in foiling mode.
The vehicle is equipped with a perimeter airbag that inflates with air in an emergency, so that it can quickly ascend to the surface. Additionally, the DS2 incorporates a monitoring system to prevent the craft from descending deeper than 50m (about 6bar of pressure).
One of the most notable safety features, however, is the craft’s ‘artificial gill’ system, developed by iSpace2o partner Like-A-Fish Technologies. This system is designed to extract dissolved, breathable air from seawater during the craft’s transits. Alan Bodner, founder of Like-A-Fish, tells Ship & Boat International: “The extracted air will be supplied through the cabin air supply, which will include modules for drying the air and for CO2 scrubbing: these are modules that [usually] exist in submarine air supply systems." The Like-A-Fish system will supply all of the oxygen needs for the DeepSeaker’s occupants, thereby removing the need for heavy and space-consuming oxygen tanks – although Bodner recommends having at least one oxygen tank on board as back-up. It’s estimated that the breathing system will consumer approximately 150W of power per occupant – again stressing the importance of the onboard battery-monitoring system.
(For the full, in-depth article, check out Ship & Boat International May/June 2023)
