The Royal Australian Navy is one step closer to operating their new hyperbaric equipment after the system achieved acceptance and global certification from Lloyds Register.
The system, a transfer under pressure chamber and recompression treatment suite worth AU$19.7 million, can treat the whole crew of an Australian submarine at once, according to JFD – the system manufacturer.
The equipment was delivered as part of an existing escape and rescue contract at its manufacturing headquarters at Bibra Lake, south of Perth.
“Achieving acceptance and global certification from Lloyds Register is a very rigorous and demanding procedure,” said general manager JFD Australia, Toff Idrus. “And what it means for submariners is extremely significant as up to 88 people can now receive life-saving medical treatment in the hyperbaric equipment suite and pressurized transfer chamber at any one time.”
“When you consider that a Collins-class submarine has a crew of 48 – 60, this new capability is very significant and represents an important milestone for submarine rescue in Australia.”