JFD delivers submarine rescue system for Republic of Korea Navy

JFD, a part of the defense division at James Fisher and Sons, has announced that its advanced submarine rescue vehicle (SRV) has been successfully delivered and accepted by the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).

The project builds on JFD’s contract with Hanwha Ocean to support the ROKN. After completing factory and harbor acceptance trials in JFD’s subsea manufacturing facility in Glasgow, Scotland, the final phase involved integrating the SRV with the rescue vessel’s moonpool system.

Unlike traditional SRV deployment methods, such as over the stern or side of a vessel, this integration required tailored engineering solutions, JFD noted.

The company integrated its SRV with a moonpool-specific launch and recovery system (LARS), incorporating hydraulic latching systems to handle the SRV and a control system for precise subsea maneuvering into the cradle.

The integration was completed following extensive trials and acceptance testing to ensure operation of the SRV and its associated systems.

The inclusion of a moonpool design mitigates operational risks in challenging sea states, directly addressing the unique challenges of South Korea’s coastal waters.

“We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Hanwha Ocean and long-standing support to the Republic of Korea Navy with this new submarine rescue capability,” JFD Managing Director Rob Hales commented.