1.
SV SHORE LINE, TILT UP TO LV..DUPLUS AT SEA
0.08

2.
SV DUPLUS
0.13

3.
CU NAME PLATE
0.16

4.
SV PAN..SUPERSTRUCTURE OF DUPLUS
0.22

5.
SCU RADAR SCANNER
0.25

6.
SV & CU CRANE MECHANISM (2 SHOTS)
0.37

7.
SV CAPTAIN AT CONTROLS
0.42

8.
LV DUPLUS TURNS, SHOWING BOTH HULLS
0.58

9.
LV DUPLUS UNDERWAY
1.04



Initials GEP/V/BOB/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE DUPLUS, A SPECIALLY DESIGNED SHIP FOR DIVING-DRILLING WORK IN THE NORTH SEA, LEFT THE HOOK OF HOLLAND YESTERDAY. THE TWIN-HULLED VESSEL WAS ON IT'S WAY TO IT'S FIRST JOB -- BOTTOM SAMPLING OFF THE EAST COAST OF THE BRITISH ISLES.

THE DUPLUS HAS TWO SUBMERGED HULLS CONNECTED BY A BROAD FLAT DECK WHICH CARRIES THE CRANE MECHANISM FOR LOWERING DIVING AND DRILLING EQUIPMENT. ONE HULL CONTAINS THE ENGINE ROOMS AND THE OTHER THE CREW QUARTERS.

PARTICULAR ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN IN THE DESIGN OF THE DUPLUS TO STABILITY IN HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE MAIN CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE VESSEL IS CONCENTRATED IN THE UNDERWATER HULLS BECAUSE OF THIS. IN ADDITION, HYDROFOILS JOIN THE TWO HULLS SO THAT THEY CAN BE RAISED AND LOWERED TO COUNTER ROUGH SEAS.