Delivered as part of JFD’s ongoing Third In-Service Support contract on behalf of the Submarine Delivery Group (SDG), part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, for the UK, France, and Norway, the exercise is designed to demonstrate full mission delivery and readiness for a disabled submarine incident.
This marks the fifth operational exercise the company has performed this year in support of its global submarine rescue contracts, demonstrating its ability to manage the complexities of a submarine incident with confidence and precision.
Richard Devlin, Managing Director, James Fisher Defence, said: “RESCUEX East showcases the NSRS’ proven ability to mobilize rapidly and deliver a coordinated, international response to submarine emergencies, where success is measured not only by reaching the first survivors, but by the ability to recover all personnel safely.
“Drawing on our collective knowledge and experience gained through supporting submarine rescue programs across multiple international navies, these trials reinforce confidence in a capability that is critical to protecting lives subsea.”
During RESCUEX East, JFD—working alongside SDG and French, Norwegian, and Royal Navy personnel—delivered all phases of the operation within defined target timelines, including a timed embarkation of equipment and personnel onto a Norwegian vessel in Rosyth (Scotland), highlighting its ability to deploy at pace. This was followed by transit to Norway to participate in live diving and rescue training operations, including a deep certification dive to over 600 meters, before safe recovery and demobilization following return to the UK.
The exercise also provided an opportunity to fully prove the recently upgraded fiber optic video and voice communications system, reinforcing the company’s commitment to enhancing capability through technology upgrades that improve safety.
As part of the exercise, multiple successful matings and hatch operations were conducted with seabed targets simulating a Disabled Submarine (DISSUB). Activities also included a rescue sequence of submariners entering the submarine rescue vehicle, recovery to the vessel, and transfer under pressure to the NSRS Transfer Under Pressure System, validating the end-to-end rescue capability in realistic environmental and operational conditions.
James Richards, Head of Submarine Rescue at JFD, said: “As the delivery partner for NSRS, exercises such as RESCUEX East are invaluable not only to prove readiness and operation of equipment under real-world conditions, but also to maintain and maximize the competency of our operators.
“These exercises ultimately help us prepare for a real rescue scenario by giving us the opportunity to conduct the full rescue process alongside divers and medics from all partner nations. These scenarios are fundamental to maintaining the success of the NSRS. The operational insight and experience the team gains during these intensive and complex operations cannot be underestimated, and this exercise further strengthens JFD’s proven capability supporting global submarine rescue contracts.”
Real world submarine rescue exercises like RESCUEX East are vital for building operator competence and validating equipment under genuine conditions. This latest exercise reinforces JFD’s consistent track record in delivering operational readiness through live deployments, while continuing to work closely with international partners as maritime operations evolve.
