Nato Submarine Rescue System
Encyclopedia
The NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) is a multi-national project to develop an international submarine
rescue system. The system will provide a rescue capability primarily to the partner nations of France
, Norway
and the UK but also to NATO and allied nations.
The NSRS is managed by Rolls-Royce
and will enter service by the end of 2008, replacing the current UK rescue system by mid 2009. The complete system is intended to be fully air transportable in the A400M European large transport aircraft.
On receipt of a SUBSUNK alert the submarine operator will initiate the NSRS call-out procedure. The Intervention Remotely Operated Vehicle (IROV) will mobilise to the scene within 56 hours and locate the distressed submarine, establish communications, conduct damage assessment and prepare for rescue operations.
The SRV along with a portable launch and recovery system (PLARS), support and operating equipment and the Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) equipment will follow 6 hours later. All equipment and personnel will be flown to the mobilisation port
for embarkation on a suitable mother ship
(MOSHIP). The complete mobilisation will take less than 18 hours and the MOSHIP will then sail to the scene where the SRV will be deployed. The aim is to achieve time to first rescue of 72 hours, with personnel being brought to the surface in groups of 15 and transferring them to the TUP system if necessary.
The NSRS will be based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland
.
and was developed from previous rescue vehicles, notably LR5, developed by Perry Slingsby Systems Ltd in Yorkshire. It is 10m long, weighs 27 tonnes and has an all-steel
(NQ1), single piece hull
. The craft is operated by a three man crew (a pilot, an observer and a rescue chamber operator). It can operate at depths between 20m and 610m and can mate with the rescue hatch seal at angles of up to 60 degrees in any direction. It also uses the latest technology batteries, the Rolls Royce "Zebra" type. These enable it to stay submerged for up to 96 hours. Propulsion is provided by 2 x 25kW units, with a further 4 smaller units being used for positioning. It is the latest generation of Rescue Vehicle and has Diverless Recovery, Fibre-Optic Data Comms and a Self Contained Breathing system developed by Divex.
It was delivered in October 2007, has made a 600 metre deep mate with a submarine, and is currently completing trials.
and the new A400M. It uses a constant tension winch system for maintaining hawse tension in all sea states.
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
rescue system. The system will provide a rescue capability primarily to the partner nations of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and the UK but also to NATO and allied nations.
The NSRS is managed by Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
and will enter service by the end of 2008, replacing the current UK rescue system by mid 2009. The complete system is intended to be fully air transportable in the A400M European large transport aircraft.
On receipt of a SUBSUNK alert the submarine operator will initiate the NSRS call-out procedure. The Intervention Remotely Operated Vehicle (IROV) will mobilise to the scene within 56 hours and locate the distressed submarine, establish communications, conduct damage assessment and prepare for rescue operations.
The SRV along with a portable launch and recovery system (PLARS), support and operating equipment and the Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) equipment will follow 6 hours later. All equipment and personnel will be flown to the mobilisation port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
for embarkation on a suitable mother ship
Mother ship
A mother ship is a vessel or aircraft that carries a smaller vessel or aircraft that operates independently from it. Examples include bombers converted to carry experimental aircraft to altitudes where they can conduct their research , or ships that carry small submarines to an area of ocean to be...
(MOSHIP). The complete mobilisation will take less than 18 hours and the MOSHIP will then sail to the scene where the SRV will be deployed. The aim is to achieve time to first rescue of 72 hours, with personnel being brought to the surface in groups of 15 and transferring them to the TUP system if necessary.
The NSRS will be based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Intervention Remotely Operated Vehicle (IROV)
The IROV system comprises the vehicle, the launch and recovery system and the control module. The vehicle is based on the PSSL Triton SP ROV which is in widespread commercial use and is fitted with variable vectored thrusting. It is capable of operating in depths of 1000m and is very mobile and compact.Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV)
The SRV is a manned submersibleSubmersible
A submersible is a small vehicle designed to operate underwater. The term submersible is often used to differentiate from other underwater vehicles known as submarines, in that a submarine is a fully autonomous craft, capable of renewing its own power and breathing air, whereas a submersible is...
and was developed from previous rescue vehicles, notably LR5, developed by Perry Slingsby Systems Ltd in Yorkshire. It is 10m long, weighs 27 tonnes and has an all-steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
(NQ1), single piece hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
. The craft is operated by a three man crew (a pilot, an observer and a rescue chamber operator). It can operate at depths between 20m and 610m and can mate with the rescue hatch seal at angles of up to 60 degrees in any direction. It also uses the latest technology batteries, the Rolls Royce "Zebra" type. These enable it to stay submerged for up to 96 hours. Propulsion is provided by 2 x 25kW units, with a further 4 smaller units being used for positioning. It is the latest generation of Rescue Vehicle and has Diverless Recovery, Fibre-Optic Data Comms and a Self Contained Breathing system developed by Divex.
It was delivered in October 2007, has made a 600 metre deep mate with a submarine, and is currently completing trials.
Portable Launch and Recovery System (PLARS)
The PLARS comprises a combined SRV catcher and stabilisation system and is designed for operation in high sea states (up to sea state 6). The system is air transportable in C-130 HerculesC-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
and the new A400M. It uses a constant tension winch system for maintaining hawse tension in all sea states.