Underwater Vessels Run On 'People Power'

WASHINGTON -- Aspiring young engineers from around the world are in Washington, competing in the International Submarine Races. The students are racing human-powered submarines that they designed and built themselves.

The U.S. Navy sponsors the competition to test the students’ skill and creativity. The races take place in the Navy’s Carderock testing tank.

Brian Morford was part of the University of Florida team that built a submarine they named “Swamp Thing.” It reached a speed of 4.7 knots, just shy of a world record. “Out controls were all over the place,” Morford said. “It was like being in a coffin flying towards the wall.”

The submarine drivers have the toughest job.

“You can’t be claustrophobic. You have to be used to the cold, dark water,” said Mike Yankaskas of Virginia Tech University. “You get in there and your hands are right here and you just pedal.”

Pedal power doesn’t propel all of the submarines.

“We have oscillating foils, which are like wings that flap back and forth making thrust and they’re actually being successful,” said Dan Dozier of the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center.

A few teams weren’t so successful. The University of Washington’s sub “Beluga” had to abort its mission after having a whale of a problem. “We had some buoyancy issues,” said Kees Beemsterleverenz. “It sank. It’s supposed to just hover in the water. ”They tried to use a little bit of duct tape to fix a possible leak. “We’re going to put it in the water and something’s going to happen and we hope it’s a good thing,” Beemsterleverenz said.

Unfortunately, Team Beluga tried again but failed to complete the course.

The winning team with the best overall performance won a trophy and $1,000. The team with the most-innovative design won $750. The Navy said it sponsored the competition to inspire students and encourage them to excel in the field of underwater technology. It has also recruited engineering students from previous competitions.

Team Talon of Florida Atlantic University had the fastest sub with a winning time of six knots. The world speed record is 8 knots, set by a Canadian team in 2007.