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Saipan’s sub finds its way to the cover of int’l magazine
Saipan’s tourist submarine Deepstar is on the cover of an international magazine dealing with the underwater industry. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)
Saipan’s very own “yellow submarine” has landed on the cover of an international magazine.
Pacific Subsea Saipan Inc.’s Deepstar was featured in the prestigious Sea Technology magazine for its July issue.
“We’re very proud, we’re very happy that Sea Technology asked us to be featured,” Pacific Subsea Saipan Inc.’s chief executive officer Jack McClure said.
“This particular magazine is a technical journal for people who are in the underwater industry worldwide. Most people who are engaged in that sort of business subscribe to this magazine,” he added.
Pacific Subsea Saipan Inc.’s chief executive officer Jack McClure shows off the Sea Technology magazine where their submarine was featured. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)
Although the article focused on the technical aspects of the parts of submarine and that the magazine itself is not one to be read by the ordinary tourist, McClure said Saipan has been enjoying some attention as a result of the feature.
“I have received lots of phone calls and inquiries all over the world regarding the product and regarding what’s going on in Saipan,” McClure said, “There was a lot of interest in what we were doing here, how it was going.”
McClure said one of the reasons why they were chosen to be on the cover is because “Saipan is kind of an exotic place.”
According to McClure, they were discovered by the magazine after they ordered new cables from their supplier.
“As a result of our company doing an order with one of the suppliers to manufacture some equipment for the submarine, our story was picked up,” McClure said.
“They wanted to write a feature in this magazine about that technique that was used to make those particular items,” he added.
Deepstar, which is one of the very first tourist submarines in world, has been on Saipan since 1991. It is an eco-friendly, fully functioning submersible that uses electricity from batteries to run the thruster motors and propel the submarine.
According to Pacific Subsea, they are the largest marine tour and second most asked for tour on Saipan. Deepstar is able to do eight dives a day with up to 48 passengers each trip.
Pacific Subsea’s consistent compliance with the American Bureau of Shipping and U.S. Coast Guard regulations allows it to continue operating for tourism activities and employ over 40 workers on island.
