Application of a Non-Contact Integrated Salvage Technology in Integral Salvage of Ancient Vessels

Abstract

In response to the operational requirement of salvage of wreck and cargo without damage during the salvage process, a new non-contact large tonnage integral salvage technology and equipment, i.e., the curved beam system, has been designed and developed, which uses the hydraulic drive technology to achieve automatic installation of beam under the wreck without contact with the wreck during the installation procession, greatly improves the wreck removal efficiency, the operational safety, and the protection of the wreck itself. This technology is suitable for non-contact integral salvage of large tonnage objects of different scales and shapes underwater, including wrecks, aircraft, cargo, etc. It has been successfully applied to the integral salvage of “Yangtze River Estuary II” ancient ship, a major underwater archaeological project in China, providing a technical support for breakthroughs in the underwater salvage technology at home and abroad.

Keywords

• curved beam
• longitudinal beam
• launcher
• salvage frame
• non-contact integral salvage