New Submarine Rescue System

It is a new submarine rescue system, owned jointly by France, Norway and the UK, has completed trials off the coast of Norway. The “SRV1” system is managed by the UK MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support team on behalf of the 3 nations.

The system consists of a free-swimming rescue vehicle with an A-frame portable launch and recovery system, a transfer-under-pressure facility to safely decompress personnel from a pressurised submarine, and an intervention system for survey and rescue preparation…

“SRV1” is designed and built by Perry Slingsby System Ltd of Kirkbymoorside. It will have a crew of 2 pilots and an attendant, can rescue 15 people at a time and will normally operate a 4-hour cycle, with an expected cycle of no more than 72 hours from notice received to deployment anywhere in the world. Once on station, it can operate in sea state 6 (5m/16 ft high waves) and remain on station in 10m/30 ft seas. SRV1 is powered by advanced sodium nickel batteries with higher power-to-weight/space ratio than the lead acid batteries used in current rescue vehicles, and a fibre optic umbilical provides video, communications and data link to the command team on the mother ship.