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Royston, Herts – One of the world's most advanced submarine rapid rescue systems has been unveiled that is aimed at holding up to 72 submariners at once and able to be deployed anywhere in the world within 72 hours. G3 Systems was sub-contracted by diving technology firm Divex, of Aberdeen, Scotland to provide the containers to house the complex and fragile equipment in this unique system.
"The team has designed and built a tough, high tech, air transportable saturation system that for the first time utilises advanced electronic remote operation and monitoring systems,” said Divex project leader Peter Williamson. "The chambers and life support system are well beyond anything that currently exists in the marketplace for submarine rescue."
Under the sub-contract, G3’s Jeremy Harris and Neil Stockley, based at the G3 Systems Integration Facility in Portland, Dorset, designed 10 containers strong enough to cope with the often harsh conditions at sea yet light enough to be transported by air. An eleventh container to store and transport associated equipment was also designed by the G3 team. All the containers were then built to exacting specifications.
Divex then transported the containers to various global locations for fitting of the decompression equipment and then tested.
The complete multi-million-pound NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) will undergo sea trials later in the year.
NSRS will be used to recover personnel from stricken submarines and, if necessary, enable the submariners to be safely decompressed. The system comprises of 11 interconnected modules which are housed in special purpose containers. When required, the individual containers will be flown by military aircraft to the optimal dockside location and mounted to the deck of a suitable ship (of which 170 have been identified worldwide). After use the modules will be returned to their storage location by commercial container transport.
The containers for the NSRS System are unique and have been designed under guidance from a variety of standards (BS:12079, BS:8323, BS:1496) as well as the Lloyd's Register Rules for Ships. Because of this the containers have been built from special materials, with full Lloyd's Register approval of all documents, construction methods, welders and qualifications, full NDE of welds and a host of other details - even the paint had to conform to an ISO standard (12944-5). The actual design of each module has been fully modelled and subjected to in-depth FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to prove its structural strength under the most severe operating conditions before manufacture was allowed to begin.
G3 Systems Project Manager, Jeremy Harris reports: “Although this is not G3's biggest or most lucrative contract, it is without doubt the best example of Quality Assured bespoke engineering and will be a product G3 Systems can be proud of for the full 25 years of the system's service life.”
G3 Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IAP Worldwide Services, Inc., provides a range of field systems to the MOD and Government agencies, including mobile and static hospitals, temporary accommodation, kitchens, and hygiene systems. When deployed, G3 staff provides support for these systems, which currently are in use in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, as well as the U.K. G3’s engineering and management services team also provides “Through Life” support packages through Contractor Logistic Support (CLS), including storage, maintenance, delivery, and recovery of the equipment on behalf of its customers.
IAP Worldwide Services is a leading government contractor providing global mission support for the Department of Defense and other U.S. government agencies. IAP, which is privately held, traces its roots back 50 years ago to Pan Am World Services, Inc., which build and operated America’s first space launch complex at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
IAP specializes in three lines of business: global operations and logistics; facilities management and base operations support; and professional and technical services. IAP’s corporate headquarters are located in Cape Canaveral, and the company has project sites in over 100 locations worldwide. IAP’s Worldwide Web site can be accessed at www.iapws.com.
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Further information on G3 Systems can be found at www.g3-systems.co.uk
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Mark Blunden
Marketing Manager
G3 Systems Ltd, Heydon Lodge, Newmarket Road, Flint Cross
Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7PN, UK
Tel: +44-1763-268200
Fax: +44-1763-268210
Cell - +44-7917-066339
Email – mark.blunden@g3-systems.co.uk
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