Forum Energy Technologies to build a submarine rescue vehicle for “Far East navy”

Offshore oil and gas systems company Forum Energy Technologies announced June 11 that it received an order from Submarine Manufacturing and Products for the delivery of a submarine rescue system to a “Far East navy”.

A similar submarine rescue system being delivered by Forum/Perry in 2009. Photo: Forum

The system to be delivered will consist of a submarine rescue vehicle (SRV), a work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and associated launch and recovery systems. The ROV and SRV will be delivered in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and integrated by SMP with additional equipment.

The SRV, an onboard piloted rescue submarine, is similar to Perry’s design of rescue vessels, and will incorporate current subsea vehicle technologies.

According to the company, the SRV will be capable of operating in depths greater than 500 meters, carrying a maximum of 19 people, and will be fully integrated with a hyperbaric rescue facility supplied by SMP. The SRV and ROV will be designed and manufactured at Forum’s facility in Kirkbymoorside, United Kingdom.

The Perry XLX-C series ROV, will be used to support the SRV in its operations by assessing and preparing a site for a submersible rescue. The XLX-C will be capable of delivering specialized equipment, including an emergency life support system, to a distressed submarine. A simulator, with a number of scenarios, will be supplied as a training aid for the ROV pilots.

“The choice of Forum’s Perry vehicles validates that our subsea technological capabilities are applicable to a wide range of uses outside of our traditional oil and gas arena,” said Prady Iyyanki, Forum’s CEO. “Our Subsea team has done a great job diversifying into other applications. This is the largest multi-year Subsea order we have received since our 2012 IPO and the first of the global non-oil and gas project awards we hope to obtain this year.”