MV Swift Rescue

MV Swift Rescue is a submarine support and rescue vessel (SSRV) that is operated by the Singapore Navy. It was built by ST Marine, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Engineering and currently manned by Swire Pacific Offshore Operations Pte Ltd, the marine arm of Swire Group.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) awarded a $400 million design, build, own and operate contract to ST Marine, through a 20-year Public Private Partnership scheme for a comprehensive ship and submarine rescue system and maintenance services, in January 2007. ST Marine formed a 50:50 joint venture with James Fisher Defence (JFD), in order to execute the project. The joint venture was named as First Response Marine Pte. JFD is a wholly owned subsidiary of James Fisher & Sons.

Swift Rescue is stationed in Changi Bay. A subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Engineering built it and was launched in November 2008. The vessel is equipped with Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER) capabilities. This is the first ship to be owned by the Asian region that has the capabilities of Submarine Escape and Rescue (SER). It is equipped with a deep-submergence rescue vehicle, Deep Search and Rescue Six (DSAR 6), which allows for the rapid and effective removal of personnel from submarines in distress. It takes approximately 15 minutes, after the arrival on the scene, for Swift Rescue to launch the DSAR 6.

Ship
Swift Rescue was built at ST Marine's Benoi yard. Swift Rescue has a length of 85 m, beam of 18.3 m and a design draught of 4.3 m. The depth to main deck is 7.5 m. It has a gross tonnage of 4,290. The vessel can carry a crew of 27 members to carry out submarine escape and rescue operations. The 9.6 m DSAR 6 submersible craft is capable of reaching a depth of 500 m for the rescue of submariners. The free-swimming submersible DSAR 6 (SRV) is operated by a two member crew and accommodate a maximum of 17 members.

Deck equipment and systems
DSAR 6 was built on JFD's Deep Search and Rescue (DSAR) 500 Class submarine rescue vehicle platform. The DSAR 6 is launched and recovered at the stern of the main deck and can be done up to Sea State 5. The Transfer Under Pressure(TUP)chamber installed on Swift Rescue can hold a maximum of 40 members. It allows for instant medical treatment provides the transfer of rescued mariners from DSAR 6 to Swift Rescue The ROV “Super Spartan” aboard Swift Rescue will assist the crew to find and view the exact location of the distressed submarine (DISSUB) and clear the debris around the DISSUB. The vessel has two 50-men enclosed lifeboats and a fast rescue boat. The helipad on Swift Rescue can support the operations of a single helicopter. The embarked helicopter is used to transfer rescued mariners to land in order to providing better medical care. It also has a DP-2 dynamic positioning system to help keep the in an exact longitude and latitude. The onboard and underwater systems are monitored and tracked by an integrated navigation and tracking system. The accommodation facilities are provided for 85 personnel. Other facilities include a hospital with 18-single beds, and a mess. The medical centre is equipped with an 8-bed High Dependency Ward and 10-bed Sick Bay to provide care to critical crewmembers as well as a repression chamber. The repression chamber has a capacity of 40 crewmembers and is equipped with a transfer lock door to prevent changes in the atmospheric pressure of the rescued people.

Power plant
Swift Rescue is powered by two four-stroke, MAN B&W diesel engines producing 2040 kW each and driving ducted propellers. She also has three Caterpillar Inc. 1360 kW diesel generators, and a 95 kW emergency generator. The propulsion system also integrates two 1,000kW tunnel bow thrusters and two 420kW stern thrusters for high maneuverability. Swift Rescue can be continually operated with out returning to port for approximately 28 days. Has a top speed of 12.5 kn and a range of 3000 nmi.

Rescue missions
Swift Rescue is fairly new to the Republic of Singapore Navy, and thus has not been deployed on any real missions until March 10, 2014. Swift Rescue had been assigned to aid in the search of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that has been lost since March 8, 2014. Swift Rescue is equipped with underwater sonar and has deep-sea divers aboard the ship. The Republic Of Singapore has deployed the submarine rescue vessel along with other military vehicles such as two C-130 Military Transport planes, a naval helicopter, and two warships, to join the search alongside six other countries. Swift Rescue was deployed from Changi Naval Base with members of the Naval Diving Unit and a medical team.

Swift Rescue was activated on 29 December 2014 to aid in the search and rescue of Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 that went missing on 28 December 2014 after the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency has accepted the offer of help from the Singapore authorities.