The NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) is a multi-national Project to develop a European rescue system, managed by the UK Defence Procurement Agency on behalf of the three Participants - France, Norway and the UK.  NSRS will complement a planned new US rescue system, and both will be capable of world-wide deployment. Together with other national systems that are generally confined to domestic littoral waters, they should provide a total NATO and Allied nation submarine rescue capability. The project was prompted by the need to replace existing submarine rescue systems as they near the end of their design life. A number of studies have been conducted over the last few years to look into issues such as operations, support, ownership and location and the Participants have now moved into the Design and Manufacture Phase and awarded a 10 year contract, to start make NSRS a reality.

General characteristics
In the unlikely situation of a submarine in distress, the NSRS Submarine Rescue Unit will be deployed by road and air to the nearest suitable port for embarkation on a mother ship. On arrival at the scene the mother ship will launch a rescue vehicle - either free swimming or remotely operated from the surface - which will 'mate' with the escape hatches of the submarine on the seabed. The crew will then be transferred in batches to the surface and if necessary into decompression facilities embarked on the mother ship.

The system will comprise many other elements in addition to the rescue vehicle, such as a portable launch and recovery system, decompression facilities, a remotely operated vehicle for underwater support tasks, emergency life support stores, and command, control and communications equipment. Shore based facilities will ensure rapid mobilisation, transport and deployment when needed.

Funding / In-Service Date (ISD) / Major Milestones / Quantities

NSRS will be a single system jointly operated and funded by the Participant Nations. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the three Nations on 6th June 2003, covering general principles for the 29-year programme and specific arrangements for the Design and Manufacture (D&M) Phase. The D&M Phase Contract was placed on 28th May 2004.

The approximate future timescales for the project are as follows:

• Achieve Initial Operating Capability/In-Service Date - December 2006
• Achieve Full Operating Capability - March 2007-June 2007

The expected In-Service life of NSRS is 25 years.

Commercial Aspects

NSRS is being procured under a 'Government Owned, Contractor Operated' arrangement, offering opportunities for industry during the D&M phase and onwards in designing, building, supporting and operating the system.The Design and Manufacture Phase Contract includes an In-Service period, giving an initial contracting period of 10 years. Following an international, open competition, the £47M contract was awarded to Rolls-Royce Power Engineering plc.

International Collaboration

The Design and Manufacture Phase of the NSRS project is being conducted as a partnership between France, Norway and the UK, with the UK acting as contracting authority and host nation for project management.  This arrangement will be reviewed for future phases. Turkey, a Participant during the Project Definition Phase, remain an Observer Nation whilst they consider future financial involvement.  Opportunities exist for other nations to join the project through signature of further phase MoUs, and participation in the In-Service operation of the rescue system.