Feature 5
The PLARS needed to be light enough for air transport, whilst strong enough to withstand the forces imposed when a 30tonne payload is
recovered in extreme sea conditions.
director of Northumberland-based EB. ‘The stage we asked ourselves: “is there anything and the Transfer Under Pressure System
project has been a huge technical challenge we can do to lighten this aspect or this (TUP) - was embarked onto Harstad. This
and has required innovation on all fronts, component?’’’ took place in northern Norway and was
but I am confident that we have developed The PLARS was delivered to the NSRS used to undertake the sea acceptance trials
and supplied the world’s most advanced Main Base Facility at HM Naval Base of the SRV, including the all-important deep
launch and recovery system.’ Clyde in the Spring of 2007 and almost dive and live transfers from a Norwegian
The PLARS is transported as seven immediately was mated with its dedicated exercise DISSUB.
separate loads; each one designed to be no shore-based training plinth – a facility that The entire NSRS is set to become the
bigger than the space envelope of a 40ft allows realistic assembly and setting-to- primary submarine rescue system for
container (40ft x 8ft x 8ft – or 12.192m x work of the system in order to train new NATO, northern Europe, and anyone else
2.438m x 2.483m) and designed to fit into support personnel and hone the skills of who needs assistance, by the end of summer
an aircraft. the existing teams in gradually reducing 2008, and EB remains actively involved in
‘A key aspect of the design has been saving the time to mobilise the system. the system by providing technical assistance
weight,’ explained Magnus Campbell, senior In the summer of 2007 the system was and materiel support as required.
engineer. ‘This has been achieved through embarked aboard the Norwegian Coast ‘EB has supplied many offshore launch
use of special materials and construction Guard vessel Harstad and, for the first time, and recovery systems for a variety of
as well as rigorous consideration of how made use of the EB-developed concept of applications in submarine telecoms, oil
the system components can be designed pre-engineered hard points built into the and gas, and renewables, but the PLARS
to perform more than one function. For deck of the vessel to allow a more rapid has certainly required the most exacting
example, the main base structures not only and accurate mobilisation to take place. attention to detail to meet the design
deal with carrying the lifting loads into the This proved to be an immediate success constraints,’ explained Tony Trapp. ‘We are
vessel, they also provide all of the necessary and was followed later in the summer by delighted that it has lived up to expectations
mounting and packaging for transport initial offshore trials. at each stage; but still preserve the hope
and subsequent mobilisation of other key Early in 2008, the PLARS - and indeed that there will be no reason to have to use it
elements of the equipment. At every design the whole of the NSRS including the SRV to reach a sunken submarine.’ WT
Warship Technology March 2008 27
WT Mar - p26+27.indd 27 03/03/2008 15:57:01
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