Page 49: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2007)

Phoenix Wins Submarine

Rescue Contract

Phoenix International, Inc. (Phoenix) was awarded a five- year contract to provide engineering and technical services to operate and maintain the U.S. Navy's next gener- ation submarine rescue system. The new Submarine Rescue Diving and

Recompression System (SRDRS) will replace the Deep Submergence

Rescue Vehicles as the Navy's premier submarine rescue capability in 2007.

Phoenix personnel will work closely with the U.S. Navy and the manufac- turer during a series of system tests and sea trials to obtain system accept- ance and certification. Once the sys- tem is certified, Phoenix will provide a core staff on North Island in San

Diego, Calif., to maintain the system in ready to deploy status at all times, as well as a surge staff to operate the system during training exercises or emergency submarine rescue opera- tions.

The SRDRS consists of three pri- mary elements: the Assessment

Underwater Work System (AUWS), the Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM), and the Surface

Decompression System (SDS).

AUWS is comprised of a side scan sonar system to locate a missing sub- marine and a one-atmosphere diving system (ADS 2000) capable of inspecting the submarine and prepar- ing it for rescue operations. The

PRM is the surface tethered vehicle that descends to and mates with the disabled submarine. It is capable of returning 16 rescuees per sortie to the surface. The PRM is nearing com- pletion at the Vancouver, BC facility of its developer OceanWorks

International. The SDS consists of a transfer lock, two 33-man decom- pression chambers, and associated chamber control systems that allow the hyperbaric treatment and decom- pression of 66 sailors at a single time.

For more information email [email protected]

Marin Mätteknik Vessel

Gets Upgrade

The oceanographic and hydro- graphic research vessel M/V Franklin, owned by Marin Mätteknik AB of

Sweden, was fitted with a gondola mounted EM 710 0.5 x1 multibeam echosounder delivered in January 2007. The order follows two con- tracts for EM 3002 dual head systems fitted to the survey vessels M/V Triad and Ping. Established in 1976, Marin

Mätteknik AB is a Swedish company located in Gothenburg, specializing in high resolution bathymetry data.

BIRNS Aquamate LL

Opens Sales Office

The BIRNS Group opened a new sales and service center in New

England. Located at The Quest

Center in New Bedford, Mass., the sales office is marketing industry standard underwater electrical con- nectors including the Aquamate

Series, FAWL/FAWM, Rubber

Molded (Marsh Marine) and others.

The connectors are used in various deep sea applications including seis- mic research, offshore oilrig support, oceanographic research, Defense operations, and environmental mon- itoring.

The Quest Center is a

Commonwealth of Massachusetts www.seadiscovery.com Marine Technology Reporter 49 people & companies

Scuttlebutt scuttlebutt \SKUHT-l-\, noun: 1. A drinking fountain on a ship; often stocked with strong rum. 2. A cask on a ship that contains the day's supply of drinking water. 3. Gossip; rumor. That ensues after a few sips of the drink

Deep Sea Systems International was acquired by Oceaneering

International at the end of September 2006. They are now a wholly owned subsidiary and DSSI founder, Chris

Nicholson remains as GM. TriTech

International Ltd. was acquired by

Halma in November 2006 as the first subsea technology company in their large portfolio. L-3 Ocean Systems

Group (aka: Klein) opened an office in Singapore. Klein is seeking a ten- ant for the 30,000 sq.ft. space vacat- ed by Oyo Corporation. Fred

Squires, the first employee at Klein celebrated his 80th birthday in early

January and he still works there!

Please send your Scuttlebutt items to:

Maggie Merrill at [email protected]

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