Pisces IV
Encyclopedia
Pisces IV is a three-person, battery-powered Deep Submergence Vehicle
(or DSV), with a maximum operating depth of 2000 m (6,561.7 ft). The craft was built by Hyco International Hydrodynamics in Vancouver, and is currently owned by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
. It and its sister, Pisces V
, are Pisces class
submersibles used by the NOAA for oceanic exploration.
Pisces IV was constructed in 1973 and immediately placed in the service of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada. The DSV was used by the Institute of Ocean Sciences
and operated at different times in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific oceans. After over 1886 dives, budget cuts forced the cancellation of support for the project. Pisces IV has since been replaced in that role by ROPOS
.
More recently, after transfer to the US, Pisces IV was certified for use by the American Bureau of Shipping
in 2000, and underwent modernization and upgrading in 2001 in preparation for the diving season. During training cruises in 2002, Pisces IV and its sister Pisces V found a Japanese midget submarine outside Pearl Harbor
that had been detected on the morning of the attack
on the harbor in 1941. Associate director of the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
, John Wiltshire, said the discovery was "probably the most significant archaeological find in the Pacific". At the time of its discovery, on 28 August 2002, the search for the sub had been ongoing for 61 years. Analysis of the wreck shows that it was brought down by a shell from the USS Ward
that breached the sub's conning tower
, confirming that the United States fired the first shot in its war with Japan.
Today, Pisces IV and its sister Pisces V spend most of their time diving near Hawaii. Both are contained on the R/V Ka‘imikai-o-Kanaloa. The subs are serviced between dives on the ship's deck, and are ready for launch on the next day, and one is generally kept on deck in ready status for the majority of any cruise.
The majority of information gathered by the sub comes from its two cameras, one of which is generally on at all times. Pisces VI is equipped with a single "bright light" camera and low-power black and white camera, both of which can be controlled by scientists on board as seen fit. The low-power camera is used to record the activities of organisms that otherwise respond poorly to bright light. Another, higher-definition camera is also available.
Samples are collected by a pair of manipulator arms; skilled pilots can use the sub's two arms, the right one more versatile than the left, to collect samples and store them in a mounted basket for later evaluation. The manipulator arms are also used to place temperature probes in hydrothermal vent
s, and occasionally for movement instead of thrusters, in order to avoid disturbing sediment.
Deep Submergence Vehicle
A Deep Sea Submergence Vehicle is a deep diving manned submarine that is self-propelled. The term DSV is generally one used by the United States Navy, though several navies operate vehicles that can be accurately described as DSVs...
(or DSV), with a maximum operating depth of 2000 m (6,561.7 ft). The craft was built by Hyco International Hydrodynamics in Vancouver, and is currently owned by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory is a regional undersea research facility under the auspices of the U. S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Undersea Research Program and administered by the University of Hawaii. Its headquarters are at University of...
arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
. It and its sister, Pisces V
Pisces V
Pisces V is a deep-submergence vehicle of the Pisces class built in 1973.Pisces V is type of manned submersible ocean exploration device, powered by battery, and capable of operating to depths of 2000 m , a depth that is optimum for use in the sea waters around the Hawaiian Islands...
, are Pisces class
Pisces class DSV
Pisces class submersibles are three person research deep-submergence vehicles designed and built by Hyco International Hydrodynamics of North Vancouver in British Columbia with a maximum operating depth of 2,000 m . The vehicles have multiple view ports, sample collecting, environmental sensing,...
submersibles used by the NOAA for oceanic exploration.
Pisces IV was constructed in 1973 and immediately placed in the service of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada. The DSV was used by the Institute of Ocean Sciences
Institute of Ocean Sciences
The Institute of Ocean Sciences is operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and is one of the largest marine research centres in Canada. It is located on Patricia Bay and the former British Columbia Highway 17A in Sidney, British Columbia on Vancouver Island just west of Victoria International...
and operated at different times in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific oceans. After over 1886 dives, budget cuts forced the cancellation of support for the project. Pisces IV has since been replaced in that role by ROPOS
ROPOS
ROPOS is an ROV used primarily for scientific research. It was originally build in Vancouver by International Submarine Engineering and purchased by the Canadian federal government. This government program also operated the Pisces IV manned submersible...
.
More recently, after transfer to the US, Pisces IV was certified for use by the American Bureau of Shipping
American Bureau of Shipping
The American Bureau of Shipping is a classification society, with a mission to promote the security of life, property and the natural environment, primarily through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities...
in 2000, and underwent modernization and upgrading in 2001 in preparation for the diving season. During training cruises in 2002, Pisces IV and its sister Pisces V found a Japanese midget submarine outside Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
that had been detected on the morning of the attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on the harbor in 1941. Associate director of the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory is a regional undersea research facility under the auspices of the U. S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Undersea Research Program and administered by the University of Hawaii. Its headquarters are at University of...
, John Wiltshire, said the discovery was "probably the most significant archaeological find in the Pacific". At the time of its discovery, on 28 August 2002, the search for the sub had been ongoing for 61 years. Analysis of the wreck shows that it was brought down by a shell from the USS Ward
USS Ward (DD-139)
USS Ward was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I, later APD-16 in World War II...
that breached the sub's conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
, confirming that the United States fired the first shot in its war with Japan.
Today, Pisces IV and its sister Pisces V spend most of their time diving near Hawaii. Both are contained on the R/V Ka‘imikai-o-Kanaloa. The subs are serviced between dives on the ship's deck, and are ready for launch on the next day, and one is generally kept on deck in ready status for the majority of any cruise.
The majority of information gathered by the sub comes from its two cameras, one of which is generally on at all times. Pisces VI is equipped with a single "bright light" camera and low-power black and white camera, both of which can be controlled by scientists on board as seen fit. The low-power camera is used to record the activities of organisms that otherwise respond poorly to bright light. Another, higher-definition camera is also available.
Samples are collected by a pair of manipulator arms; skilled pilots can use the sub's two arms, the right one more versatile than the left, to collect samples and store them in a mounted basket for later evaluation. The manipulator arms are also used to place temperature probes in hydrothermal vent
Hydrothermal vent
A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated water issues. Hydrothermal vents are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart, ocean basins, and hotspots. Hydrothermal vents exist because the earth is both...
s, and occasionally for movement instead of thrusters, in order to avoid disturbing sediment.