The submarine support vessel, MV Swift Rescue, was launched by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in November 2008. The RSN is the first in the Southeast Asian region to acquire Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER) capabilities with the equipping of the MV Swift Rescue and the submersible rescue vessel, Deep Search and Rescue Six (DSAR 6). The MV Swift Rescue and DSAR allow for the rapid and effective evacuation of personnel from distressed submarines.

MV Swift Rescue features a wide range of capabilities to carry out SMER operations. The vessel comprises a helipad for the emergency evacuation of casualties, a Launch and Recovery system used to lower and raise the DSAR 6 the water, a medical centre equipped with an 8-bed High Dependency Ward and 10-bed Sick Bay, as well as a recompression chamber. The chamber has a capacity of 40 personnel and utilises a Deck Transfer Lock to prevent changes in the atmospheric pressure of the rescued submariners when they are transferred from the DSAR 6 to the recompression chamber.

MV Swift Rescue SpecificationsDSAR 6 Specifications



Length
85m


Width
18m


Tonnage
4,300 tonnes


Maximum speed
12 knots


Endurance
Up to 28 days continuous operation at sea


Capacity
27 crew


Length
9.6m


Width
3.2m


Height
2.8m


Weight
About 25 tonnes


Operating depth
500m


Maximum speed
3 knots


Endurance
Up to 15 hours without charging


Maximum capacity
17 rescued personnel and 3 crew