US submariners learn to live without smokes

Yahoo News ^ | February 14, 2011 | By ERIC TALMADGE Associated Press

[rwa265]

YOKOSUKA, Japan – As if life on a submarine wasn't already stressful enough, with its cramped quarters, long work hours and weeks at sea, thousands of smokers on the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet recently got an unwelcome ultimatum from Uncle Sam.

As of last month, all submarines in the U.S. Navy are officially smoke free — and it's been a tense transition.

For some officers and sailors, the new policy aiming to reduce secondhand smoke risk has been that extra push they needed to make the decision to quit. But for many more, it means a little more effort at irritation management and a lot more stocking up on nicotine patches, chewing tobacco and snuff before heading out to sea.

[opbuzz]

I am certain that this will drastically cut the lawsuits concerning second hand smoke on submarines, increase the longevity of our submariners, and save the government countless millions of dollars on litigation and healthcare costs.

[RonF]

I’m not making a “second-hand smoke” argument. I’m saying that the less crap you put into the air on a sub the less work the HVAC system has to do. Given that a sub’s atmosphere can be a completely closed system with no outside ventilation (either fresh air in or exhaust out) for literally months at a time you might want to limit any unnecessary load on it that you can.

[RonF]

Not a cigarette smoker myself, but there are places on a boat where people should be allowed to smoke.

For a surface vessel I agree. For a submersible I'm not so sure.