The long-term prospects of the Blue Economy rely on the advancement in technologies that catalyze the growth of these end markets. Some macro technology trends will contribute to the specialized needs of novel technologies. Some of these trends include the development of smart technology for sensing and control, new materials science like those contributing to new fabric technologies, and the full realization of autonomous and uncrewed systems. All of these emerging technologies help meet the mounting needs to enhance the safety, efficiency, and flexibility of executing important tasks in marine environments.
BUOYANCY SOLUTIONS
Subsalve is a long established innovator in buoyancy solutions designed for a broad range of at-sea challenges, from UXO retrieval and deep-sea salvage operations to seafloor infrastructure construction and offshore drilling exploration and production.
Founded in 1977 with a mission to become the world leader in engineered inflatables, today most marine operators and dive teams are well acquainted with the conventional use of Subsalve products. Engineered with ease of use and safety in mind, Subsalve delivers innovative products based on high-strength and three-dimensional weave fabrics (including industrial-grade drop-stitch fabric). Liquid containment bladders for fuel and water up to 300,000 gallons, single modular work platform kits that provide a configurable 150 ft. Work surface with 3,000 lb. Of buoyancy that divers can easily carry to and rapidly deploy at the worksite, and a wide variety of lift bag systems to meet your needs are just some of the solutions offered by Subsalve.
Outside of that, the company’s AERE Docking Solutions, which provides fenders and work platforms for all kinds of work on the water, use a combination of new and conventional materials for a variety of docking solutions and capture systems that facilitate the launch and retrieval of many different objects.
DEFENSE & SECURITY
Motivated by demand from defense customers, Subsalve, together with our partners, has developed and deployed smart packages to enhance the safety and efficiency of using lift bags in challenging dive operations. Our specialized Ordnance Disposal systems have been a mainstay for militaries around the world for more than 30 years. Our self-contained systems are specifically designed for the removal of underwater mines and weapons.
Manufactured with heavy-duty urethane-coated nylon fabric, the system has a breaking strength of over 1,000 lbs. Per inch and is resistant to fuels and most petrochemicals. Specially designed for use by law enforcement to recover or remove explosives or other dangerous devices, our bomb recovery system is constructed with the same urethane-coated nylon as our underwater lift bags, making them highly resistant to extreme atmospheric temperature, abrasion, and petrochemicals. Our Buoyancy Control System with Acoustic/Timer Actuation (BCS-ATA) enables the active management of payload buoyancy to meet mission objectives. The BCSATA can be used in demanding applications such as ordinance recovery and sensitive equipment maintenance and installation.
SUPPORTING UNCREWED SYSTEMS
Outside of Subsalve’s traditional products, we have also worked closely with partners that require buoyancy control solutions. One such example is our development of a modular outer skin for Northrup Grumman’s uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) Manta-Ray. This UUV was developed to support long-range, long-duration missions and is payload-capable to support a variety of needs.
Subsalve’s Buoyancy Control systems were engineered to actuate lift bags in a variety of modes, including using an acoustic signal. In addition, with advanced sensor and communications technologies, the systems can rapidly and actively monitor the position of the object in the water column, enabling autonomous or manual control of ascent or descent in wired or wireless modes.
RESEARCH & EXPLORATION
Using combinations of new and conventional materials, Subsalve has delivered a variety of docking solutions and capture systems that facilitate the launch and retrieval of many different objects. Subsalve has been instrumental in research and exploration missions tasked with uncovering deep-sea secrets and improving our understanding of marine environments.
Subsalve provided buoyancy solutions for maintaining the safe positioning of James Cameron’s Deep Sea Challenger submersible during launch and retrieval operations. We also, together with the Challenger team, developed a backup system to return the submersible back to the surface should primary systems fail. This self-contained emergency buoyancy system included a custom pontoon and a specialized inflation source that was packaged in a confined space on the submersible.
As the Blue Economy continues to drive economic growth, jobs, and innovation, Subsalve takes a proactive approach to delivering advanced engineered products that enable and support the growth of an everchanging ocean industry sphere. Our group of companies is poised to help and support all areas of technology, military, clean air solutions, and the continued preservation of our precious oceans.
This feature appeared in ON&T Magazine’s 2025 Special Edition, The Future of Ocean Technology, Vol. 5, to read more access the magazine here.
