SWIFT RESCUE Submarine Rescue vessel

There were quite a few interesting vessels at the RSN's Open House, but the most unique ship was not a warship, but the distinctive red-and white Swift Rescue. The business end is actually at the stern and amidships, below the helideck.

More on this unique ship:

http://www.ismerlo.org/assets/Singapore/singapore.htm

Swift Rescue

Swift Rescue

Swift Rescue. The white rectangular structure houses the sub hangar, transfer equipment and medical facilities.

Swift Rescue

Several SE Asian navies already operate submarines; ever wonder what would happen if one got into difficuties? Well, the answer is in subcontracting.


James Fisher Defence built the DSAR-6 submarine rescue vehicle embarked on the Swift Rescue- looks like something James Cameron should be familiar with (DSAR-6 = Deep Submergence And Rescue-6). DSAR-6 is the real-life equivalent of Thunderbird 4!

DSAR-6

DSAR-6

DSAR-6

View towards the bow of DSAR-6

Stern of Swift Rescue

 If a submarine experienced difficulties in South-East Asian waters, the Swift Rescue would come by, rescue the crew with the DSAR-6, and return the crew to Swift Rescue. The men would be transferred to the Transfer-Under-Pressure and Depressurisation Chambers.

DSAR-6 is brought back on board Swift Rescue, and the stern of the sub is mated with the entrance to the decompression chamber through the tube below.

They crawl through here...

 ... and into the Decompression Chamber proper:

Within the Decompression Chamber

8-bedded High Dependency Unit

Medic explains that if the submariner is decompressed properly, nitrogen bubbles will form in his blood, which can lead to strokes and other life-threatening diseases

They would, of course, help the Brits out; the RSN, RMN and Australian Navies are also contracted with the company.

The story goes that went the Kursk went down after a torpedo explosion in 2000, the DSAR6 was the first on the scene, and offered rescue. Unfortunately, the Russians declined, thinking they would engage in some close-range spying on the Oscar II-class submarine. And then the Russian rescue vehicle, when it finally arrived, found it could not mate with the escape hatch which was canted at 60 degrees (which would not present a problem for the DSAR-6).  All 118 men aboard the Kursk perished.

Having a look at the Decompression Chambers

The lifeboat

The Super Spartan intervention system

Stairs to the helipad

My only regret is that they did not allow us to climb up to the bridge or the helideck- the vista from there would have been awesome! Well, maybe in the next edition in 3 years.

If I were a submariner in South East Asia, I would feel so ever much safer and confident, knowing that these guys will happen by in case of trouble.