JFD,
which was formed by the merger of James Fisher Defence and Divex in
2014, announced that it has been awarded a £12.1m contract by
the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of the NATO Submarine Rescue
System (NSRS). The five-year contract includes options through to 2023
and encompasses all aspects of operation and through-life-support. |
JFD is
a long-established operator of submarine rescue systems and has been
an integral part of the UK’s submarine rescue provision since
1983. The company has been at the heart of NSRS since it came into service
in 2008 as both operator and equipment manufacturer.
The service will be managed by JFD’s Submarine Escape and Rescue
team in parallel with existing similar services for Australia and Singapore.
Engineering and technical support will be provided by JFD’s Engineering
Support Cell. Opportunities exist for shared training, cross-fertilisation
of expertise, and commonality of approaches, which will serve to benefit
the entire global submarine community. The existing Faslane-based team
will augment the current JFD team, further bolstering its ability to
deliver world class support to all of its customers.
JFD has a long term engagement with BMT Isis to set new standards in
safety and environmental management. As part of this commitment, BMT
Isis will undertake a safety governance role and the NSRS will be operated
in accordance with JFD’s global Safety Management System. The
National Hyperbaric Centre, recently acquired by JFD, will provide training
course accreditation.
Mike Howarth, Managing Director of JFD, said:
“It is a source of great pride that the Participant Nations of
the United Kingdom, France and Norway have entrusted the management
of the NSRS to JFD. The contract recognises our unwavering commitment
to the safety of submariners, and the diligence with which we deliver
our existing services in Australia and Singapore.”
Cdr Dickie Randall, NSRS Programme Manager, on behalf of the NSRS Participant
Nations, said:
“It is vital to the safety of submariners worldwide that the NSRS
remains a fully-capable service delivered by skilled and experienced
personnel. It is absolutely critical that we have a submarine rescue
service that is not just fit-for-purpose, but also world class in its
capabilities. We have been well supported in the assistance NSRS has
received from industry since its inception in 2004 and a continued association
with the proven capability of JFD bodes well for the future.”
Mike Howarth added:
“The decision to award the contract to JFD is testament to the
breadth and depth of expertise within our global Submarine Escape and
Rescue Team, and the scalability of our operations and support infrastructure.”.
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NATO
Submarine Rescue System (NSRS). Picture: JFD