Beluga whale object recovery system

Abstract

A method of recovering an underwater object wherein a beluga whale wears aackpack harness, beaches into a boat with beaching capabilities and is transported to an area of work. The beluga whale is trained to then follow small boats, carry attachment hardware using a bite plate connected to the hardware, carry tow lines and buoyancy modules from the surface, dive and then locate and deploy the attachment hardware onto the non-pingered target.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of locating and attaching recovery hardware to an underwater object comprising the steps of: training a beluga whale to carry in its mouth said recovery hardware for attachment to said underwater object;   training said beluga whale to use its innate acoustic location ability to detect the location of said underwater object;   training said beluga whale to dive in the water and to detect, locate and attach said hardware to said underwater object;   deploying said beluga whale to an area of water to be searched;   commanding said beluga whale to dive, detect, locate and attach said hardware to said underwater object.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein: said underwater object comprises a non-pingered underwater object.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: training said beluga whale to beach himself on a boat having beaching capabilities such that said beluga whale can be deployed to said area of water to be searched.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said recoverer hardware includes means for attachment to said underwater object and a lift line connected to said means for attachment.