| CPC B63C 11/52 (2013.01) [B23B 41/00 (2013.01); B25H 1/0071 (2013.01); B63B 73/00 (2020.01); B63C 7/006 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. An underwater drilling assembly, comprising:
a frame, comprising:
a plurality of legs, wherein each leg comprises:
a post comprising an end; and
a suction cup at the end;
a linear actuator;
a drill assembly mounted to the frame and configured to drill a hole in a ship skin centrally with respect to the plurality of legs, wherein the drill assembly is coupled to the linear actuator, and wherein the drill assembly comprises:
a bit drive, wherein the actuation of the linear actuator is configured to linearly actuate the bit drive relative to the frame; and
a fastener configured to be driven by the bit drive, wherein the fastener comprises:
a head configured to be driven by the bit drive;
a shank extending from the head;
self-tapping threads securable to the ship skin; and
a cutting body to lead the self-tapping threads into the ship skin, wherein the bit drive is configured to simultaneously rotate the cutting body and the self-tapping threads to secure the fastener to the ship skin.
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