James Fisher Defence wins Indian Navy submarine rescue contract

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James Fisher Defence wins Indian Navy submarine rescue contract - IHS Jane's 360

Rahul Bedi, New Delhi and James Hardy, London - IHS Jane's Navy International
10 September 2014

The Indian Navy (IN) has shortlisted the UK's James Fisher Defence (JFD) to supply it with two 30-ton deep submergence rescue vehicles (DSRVs) for about INR4 billion (USD66.66 million).

IN officials told IHS Jane's on 9 September that a DSRV offered by JFD was recently selected over a Russian vessel after emerging as L1, or the lowest bidder, after user evaluation and trials. They said the Ministry of Defence would sign a contract over the next 6-8 months following price negotiations with JFD.

The IN operates only one diving support vessel - INS Nireekshak - that also doubles as a submarine rescue vessel and has been seeking two DSRVs for nearly 17 years. Its initial attempt to acquire them in 2005 was called off following corruption allegations and the requirement was re-tendered in 2010.

As an interim measure, in 1997 the IN signed a USD734,443 contract with the US Navy for its "global submarine rescue fly-away kit" service.

Acquiring DSRV capability gained impetus after INS Sinshurakshak , a Russian 'Kilo'-class submarine, exploded in the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai in August 2014, killing all 18 IN personnel on board.

JFD has previously sold DSRVs of a similar class to the Indian requirement to Singapore and South Korea. In December 2008 the Republic of Korea Navy's DSRV II - based on JFD's deep search-and-rescue (DSAR) 500-class submersible - achieved a depth of 507 m during sea acceptance tests, the deepest recorded dive in the navy's history.

 

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http://jfdefence.com/documents/SubRes_DSAR_lowres.pdf

 

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15 years on, nod to 1,900 crore deal for 2 'mini subs'

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday cleared the long-pending Rs 1,900 crore deal for the Navy to acquire two deep-submergence rescue vessels (DSRVs), which are basically mini submarines that dive to 'mate' with 'disabled' submarines to extricate sailors trapped deep underwater.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, cleared the acquisition of the two critically-required DSRVs from a UK-based company, James Fisher Defence, sources said.

Grappling with rudimentary submarine rescue capabilities, the Navy's quest for acquiring two DSRVs has been hanging fire for over 15 years now, as earlier reported by TOI .

Fortunately, the force has not suffered a major accident while a submarine has been out at sea. The Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuratna had managed to surface after a mishap in the Arabian Sea in February 2014, though two officers were killed and several others injured in the incident. There were 94 sailors on board at that time.

The acquisition of DSRVs is all the more important since the Navy is grappling with 13 ageing diesel-electric submarines, all of them well over 20 years old. Equipped with pressurised chambers, sonars and cameras, a DSRV can rescue around 20 sailors at a time from depths of over 600 metres after 'mating' with the stricken submarine's hatch. The Navy's existing "submarine escape pressurized suits'' can be used only for relatively shallow depths, while diving support ship INS Nireekshak can launch "bells" till about 175 metres.

India had inked a contract in 1997 with the US Navy for its "global submarine rescue fly-away kit'' service, paying an initial $734,443, as an "interim measure" to the DSRVs.

Then, in June 2000, Navy formally initiated the case for two DSRVs, which was "approved in principle" by CCS in November 2002.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...deal-for-2-mini-subs/articleshow/51352344.cms

 

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James Fisher inks GBP193m Indian Navy contract

James Fisher and Sons has announced that its subsidiary JFD Limited has been awarded a GBP193m contract by the Indian Navy for the long-term provision of its submarine escape and rescue capability.

The Company confirmed that the contract entails the design and production of two complete submarine rescue systems for GBP83m by December 2018 and will be assembled and produced at JFD's Inchinnan facility, near Glasgow, UK.

A 25 year in-service support contract covering all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the system will commence when the vessels are put into service in India.

Two complete submarine rescue systems will be delivered to the Indian Navy including Deep Search and Rescue Vehicles (DSRV), Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) equipment, Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) systems and all logistics and support equipment required to operate the service. Nick Henry, Chief Executive Officer of JFS, said:

"As the global leader in submarine rescue services, James Fisher has been awarded the contract by demonstrating, through its work with the Royal Navy, the Australian Navy and the Singapore Navy, a commitment to the safety of the global submarine community over many years. We look forward to working with the Indian Navy at the start of this long term relationship."

http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/5255472/James-Fisher-inks-GBP193m-Indian-Navy-contract.html