JFD joins Australian Navy submarine rescue exercise

Submarine rescue system manufacturer JFD recently joined Australian Navy vessels for a demonstration of its deep-sea submarine emergency equipment during the exercise Black Carillon 2017.

The annual safety exercise saw the participation of salvage and rescue vessel MV Besant, offshore supply ship MV Stoker and submarine HMAS Waller.

Launching from the deck of MV Stoker, JFD’s free-swimming LR5 rescue vehicle with a pilot and two crew, was sent down to depths of 400 meters to locate the underwater target seat and simulate the safe “mating” to the rescue seat of a real submarine.

“This year threw up some very tough conditions, the weather was closing in and our operations team, engineers and technicians really needed to put their knowledge and experience to the test,” JFD Australia general manager Toff Idrus said.

The fortnight of exercises also included mock rescues in shallower waters of 136 meters, using HMAS Waller.

According to the company, the LR5 successfully attached or “mated” with the submarine’s hatch several times, which, in a real emergency, would see those on board a disabled submarine safely rescued from the sea floor.

“This year’s Black Carillon exercise was highly successful and clearly demonstrated that we have a capable and reliable submarine rescue suite that is able to respond to a submarine emergency,” said the RAN’s commander of the Submarine Force, Captain Geoff Wadley.

JFD Australia also noted it is on track to soon deliver a hyperbaric equipment suite to the Australian government which will offer lifesaving medical and decompression treatment for up to 65 survivors with room for a further 14 chamber operators and medical staff.