System for retrieval of objects lost in water

A system arranged for retrieval of objects submerged and lost in water, the system comprising:

• an inflatable bladder, which in an inflated state forms a marker buoy;
• a gas release cartridge located inside the bladder;
• a gas release mechanism and a battery located inside the bladder, wherein the gas release mechanism is operated by battery power to release gas from the gas release cartridge;
• a control circuit located inside the bladder and arranged to route battery power to the gas release mechanism in response to an activation signal;
• an initiation device located inside the bladder and arranged for activation of the control circuit;
• a guide line with one end thereof connectable to a submerged object and the other end attached to the bladder, the guide line having a length sufficient to reach from the submerged object to the inflated bladder when the bladder is floating on the surface, the guide line operative for guiding a recovery means towards the submerged object from a surface vessel;
• and
• a non-watertight casing for housing the inflatable bladder, wherein at least the initiation device is in a state protected inside the non-watertight casing, such that upon inflation of the inflatable bladder the non-watertight casing is forced open by the inflatable bladder as it expands,
• wherein the initiation device is arranged to generate an activation signal in response to at least one of:
• indirectly detected water pressure, sensed conductivity or capacitance internally of the bladder, pulling of a trigger-wire, or received remotely sent acoustic command, and upon which the initiation device is operative for triggering a timer function in the control circuit which can be set to generate the activation signal after a predetermined lapse of time, and wherein the timer is arranged to be reset so as to deactivate the retrieval system within the predetermined lapse of time in the course of normal operation.