Seabug Ltd 

The Seabug consortium aims to be recognised as an innovative competitor in the niche market of manufacturing tourist submarines providing its clients with a comparatively low-cost entry into the underwater tourism market.

Seabug Ltd approached Designbrand to develop concepts for an alternative underwater craft in which to experience diving as a 'dry' adventure.

To keep engineering costs as low as possible the client choose to develop an 'ambient' pressure submarine, one in which the occupant is subjected to the surrounding water's pressure, negating the need for an elaborate pressure vessel.

The objective was to allow passengers of all statures to board the vessel effortlessly, to have the largest viewing windows possible and to maximise the ratio of cost-per-seat as major contributing factors in the design and selection of manufacturing processes available in New Zealand.

Designbrand developed a concept which allows the passenger to board the craft through a conveniently large door above water.

The use of scuba technology to provide sufficient airflow resulted in a 12-seater craft acting as a large aqualung.

Extensive investigations into the human physiology and its reaction to dive-imposed pressures enabled the design team to develop a modular passenger submarine concept which can lift itself out of the water to allow convenient entry and exit.

Large rotationally moulded plastic pontoons are free-flooding through open bottom drain holes and contain custom-designed purge valves to give passengers a spectacular dive experience.

Designbrand proposed the cost-effective process of blow moulding a very large front viewing dome and drape forming the side windows.

The use of locally available technologies made the concept feasible as a uniquely New Zealand product.

It enabled Seabug Ltd to collaborate with various engineering disciplines, naval architects and marine safety authorities, and to lead a thorough investigation of available manufacturing processes and materials.

The concept is adaptable to differently sized vessels and, through its modular nature, will allow Seabug Ltd to amortise its tooling investment across different products.

The vessel has matured beyond the initial concept with detailed technical drawings completed and it is now awaiting manufacture.

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