Page 32 - ADT AUGUST 2021 Online Magazine

the escape hatch and crewed by two opera-
tors. The cylinder capsule is composed of three
independent sub-systems: the upper lock, the
lower trunk and the ballast water tanks. The
maximum allowable internal pressure is 5 bar [ COLUMN ]
/ 6ATA and the maximum depth rating of a SR
is 300 msw.

Escape drills are carried out necessary with the
participation of a support ship, and a submarine
bottoming at a safe depth (e.g. 60/80 meters).
The system suffers for strong underwater cur-
rent and submarine pitch/roll on the seabed;
however, the reduced acquisition costs and
easiness of management (and maintenance)
make the new updated version of this system,
still a very good solution for small Navies.

Submarine Rescue Vehicle
(SRV)
The most modern Submarine Rescue Vehicle
(SRV) is an underwater remotely operated
system, launched from a moon pool (it offers
the highest reliability and safety standards
even in extreme sea conditions thanks to the
rail guides and protection of a passive cursor)
or from fixed/portable Launch and Recovery
System (LARS) A-Frame type.

The “Ciro” (Core Installation for Rescue
Operations) model in the photo, recently
selected by the Italian Navy as a SRV for the
new SDO-SuRS (Special & Diving Operations
- Submarine Rescue Ship, the new vessel for
the rescue of submarines), is equipped with a
new variable inclination skirt to mate with the
DIStressed SUBmarine (DISSUB) if pitched
and/or rolled and allowing faster adjustment
rine, providing protection against the cold and due the bright color to better pair on the DISSUB. This system can
easy to localize when reaching the surface waiting to be rescued. transport up to 19 people (with the possibility
This escape’s system can be employed usually up to 150m gong up to increase the capacity up to 25 in emergency
to a maximum depth of 180m, at a rate of 7/8 persons per each exit conditions) per trip and can operate with sig-
trunk. The possible health consequences increase with the escape nificant wave up to sea state 6. The use of a
depth, so a quick surface support for the evacuees is of the most standard Working Remotely Operated Vehicle
vital importance. Training on this escape technique is carried out (WROV), not integrated with the rescue cap-
periodically in dedicated “escape trunk” ground facilities, where it sule, allows an easy plug and play connection.
is possible to simulate all the procedure to leave the submarine. In addition, there is the possibility to use the
WROV as a stand-alone unit for other purposes
In the escape trunk the lower hatch is opened to allow the access thanks to the dual use capacity of the system
of the trainer and then shut. It is filled with water and brought to the especially for the first subsea intervention
same outside pressure with HP air. This allows the opening of the phases in a DISSUB Scenario.
outside hatch, leaving the trainer free to rise up the surface thank
to the expansion of the air in the hood, that provides buoyancy and As the WROV is an industrial and well proven
a bubble of air to breathe. technology, there is the possibility to train also
the End User personnel on industrial simulators
To the Rescue and on Industrial and Offshore applications,
This is a mechanic rescue system derived from the Mc Cann Bell without the need to operate in real Submarine
and needs the support of a ship. Modern Submarine Rescue bell are Rescue scenarios. This allows keeping the
designed for the rescue of up to nine DISSUB personnel, throughout WROV pilots trained and updated at all times,

32 | August 2021 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT