Feature 4 | SUBMARINE RESCUE
from the submarine gas supply or from a 12litre cylinder. Te structure of the IFE incorporates
strap fabric foot/hand holds which provide structural rigidity, tensioning vertically as the tower inflates and holding it firmly against the submarine casing. Te system enables an egress rate of
two-to-three
submariners per minute from each of the casing hatches. In December 2010, James Fisher
Defence and the French Navy trialled an advanced prototype of the IFE in the access hatch of a Rubis class nuclear- powered attack submarine. The trials, performed in Toulon, were intended to prove the fitment, installation and operation of the retrofit variant of the device, and to inform future decisions specific to that class of submarine and hatch arrangement. According to James Fisher Defence, the
IFE is under consideration for a fleetwide roll-out with the French Navy. Te external IFE system is a reusable system designed to provide added
James Fisher Defence and the French Navy have trialled an advanced prototype IFE in the access hatch of a Rubis class submarine (Credit: James Fisher).
safety and ideally incorporated into the submarine at the build stage. Stored deflated in a GRP housing, which is bolted beneath the lip of the rescue seat under the casing, the IFE is not sealed but open to external pressures as the submarine dives. When required the IFE is inflated
by a single valve on a panel fitted in a convenient location within the escape tower. Air is taken from the submarine gas
OceanWorks forms alliance Down Under
OceanWorks in the USA has announced that it has signed a formal teaming agreement with The Underwater Center Fremantle (TUCF) and Ocean Technix, both located in Western Australia, to provide submarine rescue and atmospheric diving related equipment and services to both the Royal Australian Navy and the commercial oil and gas market. Rod Stanley, chief executive officer of OceanWorks, said: “Apart from providing support and technical services to the Royal Australian Navy the alliance provides a solid foundation for services to the oil and gas industry with initial focus on the Oceanworks Quantum Atmospheric Diving System (ADS).”
OceanWorks specialises in the design and manufacture of manned/unmanned subsea systems and specialised equipment for military, oil and gas, scientific, and other marine markets. TUCF provides a broad range of underwater training services with emphasis on occupational diver training and atmospheric diving systems. Ocean Technix has experience in special underwater projects, using small boats to larger DP vessels, diving teams, remotely operated vehicle (ROV), survey and positioning, subsea engineering and manufacturing teams. Full Atmospheric Diving Services are now offered by the alliance for operations in Australia. A HARDSUIT Quantum ADS with an integrated launch and recovery system is based in the region with operations and management personnel. OceanWorks has also recently announced that it has delivered 24 Submarine Receiving Fittings (SRF) and four Submarine Adapter Units (SAU) to the Department of National Defence (DND) in Canada for the Victoria class Submarine Emergency Ventilation and Decompression System (SEVDS).
The SRFs are a custom-designed modification of the existing hi/lo salvage fittings of the Victoria class submarines, allowing them to be adapted for submarine rescue operations. The SAUs are custom-designed interface modules, which allow any SEVDS utilizing the NATO standard to be used in an operation involving the Victoria class. The SAU also provides the interface for operation by a diver, ADS or ROV in connecting the SEVDS safely and securely to a submarine.
The purpose of the SAU and SRF portions of the SEVDS is to provide a safe and reliable method of supplying crew members on board submarines with ventilation and decompression during an emergency, which in turn allows for an extended time frame for the US Navy submarine rescue diving and recompression system (SRDRS), or other submarine rescue assets to arrive on site and start personnel transfer to the surface.
24 Warship Technology March 2011
supply, or via a 250 Bar air cylinder, and fed in at four points from this source to effect fast and even inflation. Te external system allows for an escape
rate of four-to-five submariners per minute. Aſter the recovery of the submarine the IFE can be deflated. During this process the IFE is drawn back into its housing and, once in position, catches secure it in place to be used again immediately. WT
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