James Fisher Defence (JFD), the leading global sub-sea operations and engineering company, has been awarded a special commendation from the Submarine Force Commander of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), as a result of their dedication and innovation demonstrated during Black Carillon 2013, a naval exercise conducted annually in order to test the capabilities of the Commonwealth’s submarine rescue provision.
During the exercise, JFD and the RAN simulated a rescue from submarine HMAS Farncomb, bottomed in 112 meters of water off the east coast of Australia.
The commendation recognises the successful and professional delivery of the entire service and the challenges overcome to enable the athwart-ships deployment of the LR5 submarine rescue vehicle (SRV).
Black Carillon 2013 tested the entire capability of the James Fisher Submarine Rescue Service (JFSRS). In support of the headline requirement for a 36-hour simulated rescue and decompression of the entire submarine crew, the project included a significant logistics management element involving the deployment of the entire JFSRS by air and road, cross-country, from Perth to Sydney, a distance of some 3,950km.
JFD’s Mobilisation and Naval Architect teams were also challenged with modifying Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Ocean Shield to allow the launch and recovery of LR5 over the side of the ship. Typically, LR5 would be deployed over the stern. The innovative athwartships launching arrangement, made possible by four unique deck-stools specifically designed by JFD, allowed the safe launch and recovery of the SRV whilst avoiding costly modifications to the stern of Ocean Shield. It also represented the first time such an arrangement has been used to safely launch a submarine rescue vehicle.
“Black Carillon 2013 allowed JFD demonstrate its expertise in safely mobilising and operating submarine rescue equipment in challenging circumstances,” said Ben Sharples, Managing Director, James Fisher Defence.
“Receiving this commendation is testament to JFD’s legacy of innovation, the hard-work and dedication of our team and the excellent working relationship we enjoy with the Royal Australian Navy.”
Subsequent to receiving the Black Carillon 2013 commendation, JFD employee Amy Rankin has been awarded a similar commendation for her excellent performance and contribution as part of the RAN’s Pressurised Submarine Escape Training Team.
[mappress] Press Release, April 17, 2014; Image: JFD