Rescue Vehicles and Systems

Submarine rescue requires specialized and expensive rescue vehicles and systems. Only a small number of nations operate such systems and the capability, capacity and limitation of the systems can be quite varied. Over the past ten years, optimizing these assets and ensuring compatabilty and interoperability between rescue systems have become global issues. Given that the crew of a distressed submarine may have little more than 72 hours of survivability, some rescue systems today have been designed to be air portable so that they can be deployed at short notice anywhere in the world

The Italian salvage ship ITS Anteo is a highly versatile self-contained rescue ship fully equipped to respond to a range of salvage operations including a major submarine accident. She is fitted with extensive salvage gear, including atmospheric diving suits and three recompression chambers, four lifeboats, three fire fighting systems and a flight deck and hangar for helicopter operations

Her primary asset, however, is her 27 tons rescue vehicle, the SRV 300. The SRV 300 is a highly specialised vehicle, able to dive onto a distressed submarine down to 300m and rescue 12 survivors at a time. The ITS Anteo also has a McCann rescue chamber, capable of rescue down to 250m.

French Intervention System

France is operating her Submarine Intervention System to take part of SORO 05. Operated by CEPHISMER (French Navy Human Diving and Underwater Intervention Cell), this system is mainely composed of one ADS « NEWTSUIT » able to dive up to 300 metres and one ROV « ULISSE » able to dive up to 1000 metres. Those assets are used for Survey, Pod Posting and external ventilation (DSVDS). In nine months, the ADS has totaled more than 500 hours underwater. Qualified just before SORO 02 in Denmark, the ADS will reach its 700th dive in Taranto during SORO 05.