• Defence

JFD’s rescue service rises to the top

Indian Navy contract confirms JFD's position as the global leader in submarine rescue services.

As reported in the last issue of Pelican, James Fisher's subsea operations and engineering company, JFD, has won a £193m long-term contract from the Indian Navy for submarine rescue. This, coming on top of last year's NATO submarine rescue system win, puts JFD in control of delivering submarine rescue services to six of the most advanced navies in the world.

The exciting new contract includes the design, build and supply of two complete submarine rescue systems to be situated on bases maintained on the east and west coasts of India. Both bases will have state-of-the-art rescue assets which will be operated by the Indian Navy, trained and supported by JFD maintenance and training staff as part of the deal which includes a 25 year all-inclusive annual maintenance contract.

"Not only does this contract help to confirm JFD's leadership in this elite niche market, but the long-term on-going service element allows JFD to share best practice, expertise and commonality of approaches which will benefit the entire global submarine community."

Says JFD's commercial director, John Paul McCarroll.

The contract has been a long time coming, partly because the Indian Navy's requirements changed as its navy grew and developed. John Paul explains;

"JFD has bid for different elements of the work on three occasions over the last thirty years. It became a marathon process which required significant support from the James Fisher group, but the Indian Navy has been a strategic target which we have never lost sight of, and as James Fisher has expanded in recent years, our competitive edge has increased."

The JFD lead team working with John Paul on the most recent bid, were Al Green, Ben Potter, Ben Sharples, Paul Chapman, and Robbie Gorman, all of whom have spent a significant amount of time and energy over the years to help ensure JFD's success.

The process culminated in proposals being submitted in June 2012, JFD being selected as preferred bidder in July 2014, and the contract being finally signed earlier this year.

JFD's position of trust with other world class navies was crucial to the appointment, but John Paul adds;

"We were able to offer an end-to-end service from equipment build to full operations and support using existing proven models - which is something no other company can do."

Nick Henry, chief executive officer of JFS, adds,

"As the global leader in submarine rescue services, James Fisher has been awarded the contract by demonstrating, through its work with the Royal Navy, the Australian Navy, the Singapore Navy and NSRS, a commitment to the safety of the global submarine community over many years. We look forward to working with the Indian Navy at the start of this long-term relationship."

With Giovanni Corbetta, managing director of JFD, concluding;

"The decision to entrust JFD with the supply of two submarine rescue systems is testament to the breadth and depth of our engineering expertise, and the diligence with which our submarine escape and rescue teams deliver these services."

Find out more information on JFD's submarine rescue contract with the Indian Navy;

• James Fisher wins significant £193 million submarine rescue service contract with the Indian Navy