Kawasaki Heavy Industries presents deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) at MAST Asia 2017
At MAST Asia, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is presenting its deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV). MONS talked to Yuya Ikegami, from the Marketing and Sales Division in the Naval Ship Sales Department. “The DSRV can accommodate two pilots and 12 people,” he says. “It is equipped with one main thruster and four sub-thrusters.”
The DSRV latches on to the submarine in distress with an electromagnetic ring, then the water between the DSRV and the submarine door is vacuumed out and the submariners are free to leave the submarine. The ring is also equipped with a shock absorber.
The DSRV is operated from two submarine rescue ships built by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding: the AS Chiyoda and the AS Chihaya.
Currently the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) possesses and operates two DSRVs (‘Chiyoda’, completed in 1985, and ‘Chihaya’, completed in 2000). “We are now building the third one,” concludes Mr Ikegami, “which will be ready by March 2018.”
Dr. Alix Valenti