DSV Limiting Factor
Limiting Factor is a crewed deep-submergence vehicle (DSV) manufactured by Triton Submarines and owned and operated since 2022 by Gabe Newell’s Inkfish ocean-exploration research organization. It currently holds the records for the deepest crewed dives in all five oceans. Limiting Factor was commissioned by Victor Vescovo for $37 million and operated by his marine research organization, Caladan Oceanic, between 2018-2022. It is commercially certified by DNV for dives to full ocean depth, and is operated by a pilot, with facilities for an observer.
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | Limiting Factor |
| Builder | Triton Submarines LLC |
| In service | 2018 |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Triton 36000/2 crewed full ocean depth deep-submergence vehicle |
| Displacement | 12,500 kg (27,600 lb) all up weight |
| Propulsion | 10 ducted propeller fixed thrusters |
| Speed | Lateral: 2–3 kn (3.4–5.1 ft/s; 1.0–1.5 m/s), Vertical: 1–2 kn (1.7–3.4 ft/s; 0.51–1.03 m/s) |
| Endurance | 96 hours normal operations |
| Test depth | 14,000 msw (46,000 fsw) |
| Complement | Pilot and observer |
The vessel was used in the Five Deeps Expedition, becoming the first crewed submersible to reach the deepest point in all five oceans. Over 21 people have visited Challenger Deep, the deepest area on Earth, in the DSV. Limiting Factor was used to identify the wrecks of the destroyers USS Johnston at a depth of 6,469 m (21,224 ft), and USS Samuel B. Roberts at 6,865 m (22,523 ft), in the Philippine Trench, the deepest dives on wrecks. It has also been used for dives to the French submarine Minerve (S647) at about 2,350 m (7,710 ft) in the Mediterranean sea, and RMS Titanic at about 3,800 m (12,500 ft) in the Atlantic.