A submarine rescue ship is a surface support ship for submarine rescue and deep-sea salvage operations. Methods employed include the McCann Rescue Chamber, deep-submergence rescue vehicles (DSRV's) and diving operations.
USS Pigeon, submarine rescue ship
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Chiyoda (left) and Chihaya (right)
Italian ship Anteo, submarine rescue ship
HSwMS Belos (A214) of the Swedish Navy
Submarine rescue is the process of locating a sunk submarine with survivors on board, and bringing the survivors to safety. This may be done by recovering the vessel to the surface first, or by transferring the trapped personnel to a rescue bell or deep-submergence rescue vehicle to bring them to the surface. Submarine rescue may be done at pressures between ambient at depth, and sea level atmospheric pressure, depending on the condition of the distressed vessel and the equipment used for the rescue. Self-rescue of submarine personnel by buoyant free ascent at ambient pressure is considered submarine escape. Survivors may require recompression treatment for decompression illness.
Cutaway drawing of the McCann Rescue Chamber.
LR5 rescue vehicle is lowered into the water
NSRS in 2011.
US Navy 040426-N-7949W-007 Deep Submergence Unit (DSU) Unmanned Vehicle Detachment (UMA Det) personnel guide the Super Scorpio remote operated vehicle (ROV) to a safe recovery