22 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2008
In lleagues os of their own
S
UBMARINE accidents don’t Then there are all the support systems of submarines and ‘casualties’ with complex coast of the Russian Kamchatka peninsula, So
happen often but when they do
air supply/ventilation systems and divers; problems needing specialist medical aid. when AS-28 Priz was cut free from the cables
there’s a particular horror about
debris removal and emergency life support snagging her by the British-based Scorpio
them.
store re-supply. Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV).
Who could forget the failed rescue
All these have to be transported to the
F
or the two weeks of the exercise,
three submarines, one each from
Thanks to the database run by ISMERLO,
A
the Netherlands, Norway and
attempts on the Russian submarine Kursk
site of a submarine in trouble, a logistical
the International Submarine Escape and
Pa
Poland, were ‘bottomed’ off the coast of
in 2000, or the collective relief five years
challenge which requires a huge international
Rescue Liaison Office based in Norfolk,
SP
Kristiansand at depths between 80 and
later when the Russian submersible Priz
effort and pooled resources.
Virginia, the UK team had full access to the
a
140 metres.
was successfully cut free from its snags and “Interoperability is the key,” explained
specifications of the stricken Priz, and knew
inf
While they played the part of a sunken
brought to the surface? Capt David Dittmer, the US submarine
what equipment would be needed.
co
submarine with up to 80 casualties in various
It’s the race against time that makes the officer in tactical command of the exercise.
needs of medical treatment, the submarine
The organisation, a sort of International
rescue attempts so nail-biting – when a He explained: “Submarine rescue is so
escape and rescue assets practised their
Rescue for submariners, was set up to
to
submarine is in distress, there is generally
technologically complex that there are only
coordinated rescue and medical skills.
ensure that at least one of the world’s rescue
sub
only a 72-hour window.
certain numbers of people expert in it, Although it was NATO-led, Bold
systems would be available at a moment’s
be
ba
“Submarine rescue transcends national
and while some of the components may Monarch’s scope went far beyond NATO’s
notice.
boundaries,” confirmed Rear Admiral David
be different because member nations. It
“There are such a limited number of
ex
Cooke, Commander Operations. “Any life-
we’ve got our own was the first of its
people who really know submarine rescue
threatening incident affecting a submarine
industries and our
“I think it’s the submarine
M
kind in which Russia
and submarine rescue mobilisation,” said
ins
concerns the entire international submarine
own standards, if we
community which is the pulse –
took a full part –
Bill Orr, ISMERLO coordinator and a
wi
community.” everyone would do anything they retired US diving officer. “We look at
me
Global co-operation is the key to success
can work together
she sent her rescue
can to help a stricken boat.”
the availability of rescue assets out there,
for submarine rescue.
and develop those
vessel, the RFS
provide notice for urgent requirements for
for
Most boats are already designed with a
relationships we will
Titov, carrying the
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle AS-34,
rescue, and post that information on our
Uk
rescue seat on their hatches which complies
take a huge leap forward in our capability.
and conducted her first ‘mating’ with a
website.”
loo
with NATO specifications, so that submarine
He added: “I think it’s the submarine
NATO submarine.
He explained: “The nation that lost the
sai
rescue vehicles can ‘mate’ with almost any
community which is the pulse – everyone
NATO-Russia cooperation in submarine
submarine, as well as nations that can
SP
type of submarine in the world, opening the
would do anything they can to help a
rescue was first discussed in 1996 under
offer assistance, can see that information
hatch and taking the submariners to safety
stricken boat and it’s the job of the folks
the Partnership for Peace programme
and identify the best possible assets to
op
with transfer under pressure equipment.
here to make sure we’ve got the tools in the
and developed following the signing of an
respond.”
als
toolbag to make it happen.”
B
ut submarine and deep-water rescue agreement in 2003, and in June 2005, Russia
In total 14 countries – Canada, France,
Ch
is so specialised and requires such
Exercise Bold Monarch, which took place
took part in a previous NATO submarine
Greece, Germany, Israel, Italy, the int
expensive equipment that only a
off the southern coast of Norway last month,
search-and-rescue exercise, Sorbet Royale
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia,
few nations can design and operate it.
was the latest and largest in a series of
off Taranto, Italy.
Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and an
Over the years different countries have
NATO-led submarine escape exercises.
It was the experience and relationships
the United States – sent personnel and rescue Su
developed various types of rescue systems
Its aim was to bring together rescue systems
developed during that exercise which
equipment to Exercise Bold Monarch. the
and equipment, from remotely-operated
from all over the world and collaborate in
contributed to the success of the mini-
Observers were sent from Argentina, ne
vehicles to atmospheric diving suits. a series of scenarios involving distressed submarine rescue in August 2005 off the Australia, China, India, Pakistan, Singapore, ful
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