SMD delivers ROVs for Indian Navy submarine rescue systems

Subsea design and manufacturing company Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) recently delivered two 1000m Atom Mk1 work class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems to JFD Ltd, who is in charge of delivering a complete submarine rescue system to the Indian Navy.

The Atom systems come with launch and recovery systems (LARS) and SMD control and workshop cabins.

According to the company, each Atom system carries three emergency life support pods for delivery to a submarine forming the intervention element of the 3rd generation submarine rescue system. For this order, JFD took advantage of Atom’s ability to carry a large payload within the compact vehicle frame.

Ben Sharples, India project director, JFD, said: “SMD’s atom ROV systems play an important part in our new 3rd generation submarine rescue systems, and in advancing our ultimate aims of driving down time to first intervention, protecting life at sea, and improving the standards of safety for submariners around the world.”

The complete systems to be delivered to the Indian Navy include the DSRVs, launch and recovery system equipment, transfer under pressure systems, and all logistics and support equipment required to operate the service, plus a 25-year in service support contract.