Non-Subscriber Extract
Current submarine rescue services
Current submarine
rescue services
Despite the number
of submarines currently in service among the world's navies, there are
surprisingly few dedicated submarine rescue organisations. Each is orientated
towards its own nation's fleet, but compatibility with foreign equipment
has been demonstrated during exercises such as 'Sorbet Royal'. Both the
UK and Australian services are notable for their reliance on commercial
contractors, a philosophy based on the expertise gained by operators involved
with offshore operations such as oil and gas field work for a number of
years.
The Submarine Rescue Chamber or 'McCann Bell' is an example of technology
adapted from the era of the Squalus rescue that still works today and
is cheap and simple to operate. Turkey is the main operator, with three
in service, though Italy and the US also use the system. Also popular
with Italy and the US, and being acquired by France, is the One Atmosphere
Diving Suit, known as the ADS or'Newtsuit'. 
It
is a manned alternative to an ROV for operations such as hooking up hoses
and DSDS, pod posting etc, and is equipped with propulsion thrusters for
free or tethered movement.
Replacing the MSM1 for Italy is the SRV300, built by Drass Galeazzi SrI.
Support ship Anteo can deploy the vehicle from a well at the stern of
the vessel, and it proved to be one of the most successful submersibles
during 'Sorbet Royal 2000'.
Operated by commercial contractors Rumic, the UK's LR5 comes with a portable
25-ton A-frame, which is fitted to a suitable MOSHIP in order to lower
and raise the submersible from the water. It was refitted in 2000 to increase
rescue capacity from nine to 15 survivors at pressures of up to 5 bar.
The UK also operates a Scorpio ROV and SPAG team.
One of the USA's two Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), the Avalon
is due for mothballing this year, but its sister the Mystic will carry
on in service. A key feature of the US submersibles is their ability to
use a submarine as a MOSHIP, allowing operations in heavy sea states.
It has been tested for use with UK and French SSBNs as well as US SSNs.
Sweden's URF is operated from the support ship Belos and is perhaps the
most capable rescue submersible for TUP operations. Like the Italian SRV300,
it can be launched from a limited number of different ships if necessary,
but at 52 tons it has been difficult to airlift. Australia's Remora diving
bell is the core of a service that also includes two recompression chambers
with the capacity for 36 personnel each. It can be connected to a transfer
chamber for TUP operations and the design may be influencing that of the
new US system.
Japan and South Korea both have DSRVs with dedicated MOSHIPs. The Korean
LR5K is in fact based on the UK design, which itself was adapted for rescue
from an offshore submersible built in 1978.
Little is know about Russia's systems, one submersible of the Bester and
five of the Priz class, which were involved in the failed rescue attempt
on the Kursk. The Priz is thought to be operable either manned or unmanned,
but is restricted by a battery endurance of just three hours. An upgrade
has been proposed that will allow the Russian systems to dock with damaged
submarines and improve their navigation equipment. China also has DSRV
capability.
 |
A
'Newtsuit'-clad diver prepares to be hoisted and lowered to a simulated
DISSUB during 'Sorbet Royal 2000'.
(Source: NATO) |
|
|
| Preparing
to deploy an Italian submersible hyperbaric chamber. (Source: NATO) |
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