Underwater habitable vessel

Abstract

A hull for deployment as an underwater habitable vessel is described. The hull has at least two hull wall modules connected in series to enclose an interior volume of the underwater habitable vessel. The interior volume is bounded by the hull wall modules. There is also provided a kit of parts for a hull of an underwater habitable vessel. The kit comprises at least two hull wall modules configured to be connected in series to enclose an interior volume of the underwater habitable vessel. The interior volume is bounded by the hull wall modules when connected.

1 . A hull for deployment as an underwater habitable vessel comprising:
 at least two hull wall modules connected in series to enclose an interior volume of the underwater habitable vessel, wherein the interior volume is bounded by the hull wall modules.   
     
     
         2 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein the hull wall modules are connected together via mating rings, one positioned between each hull wall module. 
     
     
         3 . The hull of  claim 2 , wherein each mating ring comprises:
 two axial faces, one on each side of the mating ring, each configured to mate with a corresponding axial face of an adjacent hull wall module; and   two circumferential grooves, one in each of the axial faces of the mating ring, each configured to receive a seal, wherein the seal is configured to provide a watertight connection between the mating ring and the adjacent hull wall module.   
     
     
         4 . The hull of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of each mating ring extends beyond an outer surface of the hull wall modules and comprises at least one attachment point for mounting an object outside the hull. 
     
     
         5 . The hull of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one attachment point comprises a bolt hole or rail. 
     
     
         6 . The hull of  claim 2 , wherein each mating ring comprises a plurality of through-holes, arranged about a circumference of the mating ring, and configured to be aligned with corresponding through-holes arranged in flanges of a pair of adjacent hull wall modules to thereby define triplets of aligned through-holes, wherein each aligned triplet of through-holes is configured to receive a bolt to thereby connect the pair of hull wall modules together. 
     
     
         7 . The hull of  claim 6 , wherein the hull wall modules are made of metal, and wherein at least one of the mating ring and the flanges further comprises an insulating layer configured to electrically isolate the hull wall modules from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein the hull wall modules are detachably connected to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein there are at least three hull wall modules, wherein the hull wall module at a first end of the series of the at least three hull wall modules and the hull wall module at a second, opposite end of the series of the at least three hull wall modules are configured as end-caps comprising identical first form factors, and wherein the at least one remaining hull wall module is configured as an intermediate module, wherein each at least one remaining hull wall module comprises a second identical form factor different to the first form factor. 
     
     
         10 . The hull of  claim 9 , wherein the first form factor comprises an open-sided hemisphere or torisphere, and wherein the second form factor comprises a cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The hull of  claim 9 , wherein at least one or each hull wall module comprises one or more apertures in a surface thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The hull of  claim 11 , wherein the apertures each comprise an aperture fitting configured to be fitted with interchangeable components comprising: windows, blanks, hatches, moonpools, moonpool hoods, penetrator plate, penetrator, or a connecting structure configured to connect to an aperture of a second hull and to allow passage of a human therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The hull of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture fittings are configured to form a watertight connection with the interchangeable components when fitted. 
     
     
         14 . The hull of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one intermediate module comprises three or more apertures, wherein the apertures are regularly spaced around the circumference of the intermediate module. 
     
     
         15 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein the hull wall modules are connected along a longitudinal axis passing through the interior volume. 
     
     
         16 . The hull of  claim 15  further comprising a stabilising platform configured to support the hull on the seafloor such that the longitudinal axis is held in a horizontal or vertical orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein the internal diameter of each hull wall module is 2-12 m, 3-8 m, or 4-6 m. 
     
     
         18 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein the hull wall modules are manufactured by an additive manufacturing technique. 
     
     
         19 . A system of underwater habitats comprising two or more hulls of  claim 1  coupled together via one or more connecting structures configured to allow passage of a human therebetween. 
     
     
         20 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The hull of  claim 1 , wherein the underwater habitable vessel is one of a submarine, a submersible, and an underwater habitat.