OceanWorks overhauls French Navy’s Hardsuit ADS

Subsea technology company OceanWorks International informed that it has completed a major survey and overhaul of the French Navy’s Hardsuit Atmospheric Diving System (ADS).

The work was contracted to OceanWorks by ECA Robotics, the company in charge of maintaining the Hardsuit ADS for the French Navy.

Delivered to the French Navy in 1991, Hardsuit ADS is designed for a service life of up to 25 years. Oceanworks said the recently completed overhaul will ensure the continued use of the system by the French Navy in meeting its submarine rescue intervention requirements.

Upon receiving the Hardsuit ADS, OceanWorks technicians first disassembled the suit and completed a thorough inspection. The next step involved the replacement of internal partssuch as O-rings, Teflon seals, and other items before the HARDSUIT™ ADS was then re-assembled and put through full functionality testing as well as hydrostatic testing to 1.4 times its operational depth, the company explained.

Oceanworks further noted that a new suit would be subject to a very similar testing regimen indicating high quality standards in manufacturing and testing processes.