JFD Will Provide Rescue Operations Through 2023
The British MoD has awarded Scotland-based JFD a £7 million (€7.7 million) three-year contract extension to ensure NATO submariners are backed up by world-class rescue operations, the Ministry announced on 30 September.
Extending through 2023, the contract will provide operational support to the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS), a collaborative project created in 2008 and shared between the UK, France and Norway to ensure submarine operations are as safe as possible. The dedicated system provides rescue to the three nations, as well as to allied NATO partners through bilateral agreements.
“The safety of our personnel is of the utmost importance and […] we have extended our submarine rescue capability contract with JFD, which will continue to support jobs in Scotland […] This contract extension also represents our dedication to the NATO Submarine Rescue System and underpins our continued commitment to ensuring NATO submarine operations remain as safe as possible,” stated Defence Minister Jeremy Quin.
In addition to providing ‘rescue ready’ capability 24/365, the contract also provides expertly trained operating teams, service upgrades to the specialised rescue vehicles and full maintenance. Ready to go at a moment’s notice, rescue operations can involve sending specialised vehicles to collect submariners after receiving a distress signal. The expert operations team will then slowly decompress the submariners and return them safely above the sea. JFD is a world-leading underwater capability provider, which has worked with MoD since 1983 and is an integral part of the UK’s submarine rescue provision.
Danny Gray, Managing Director of JFD, stated that the contract extension has been secured “[…] after five years of hard work to build strong relationships with the UK MoD and the participant nations of France and Norway. The extension reflects the MoD’s confidence in our ability to keep submariners safe, as well as the diligence with which we delivered the initial agreement […] Our heritage is built on world-class safety and […] our team continues to impress with their extensive knowledge, as well as their unwavering commitment to the highest possible standards of equipment maintenance, operational delivery and training. We look forward to continuing our work with the NSRS Authority and ensuring we are constantly upgrading processes, equipment and training to exceed market standards.”
