• Defence

Cowan joins JFD on a project for the US Navy

Cowan delivers its first set of transportable recompression chambers to the US Navy.

In the spring issue of Pelican we announced the acquisition of Cowan Manufacturing (Cowan), a specialist diving and recompression company based in Australia.

Now, for the first time as part of JFD, the team has delivered its first set of transportable recompression chambers (TRCS) to the US Navy for the support of special forces, Navy SEALS and Marines in the Asia Pacific region.

These chambers were certified by the US Defence Department (NAVSEA) for acceptance as part of a visit to Cowan in June 2018, and the contract comes as part of a long-standing relationship between Cowan and NAVSEA which has resulted in contracts of over 40m USD.

Cowan is recognised worldwide for the design and manufacture of lifesaving recompression and hyperbaric chambers and the new link with JFD is considered to be a significant step in expanding the group’s presence in the US Military market and the wider Asia Pacific region.

This acquisition further enhances JFD’s capability within the defence and commercial diving sectors and broadens its offering to global navies.

Toff Idrus, general manager of JFD Australia explains how working with Cowan will also support its local offering to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN):

‘The acquisition of Cowan will allow JFD Australia to extend our existing RAN hyperbaric repairer accreditation to include the manufacture of high-tech stainless steel, steel and aluminium equipment such as the submarine rescue vehicles which are so important to our business.’

Craig White, general manager of Cowan adds:

‘This is a very positive step forward and one which enhances our reach within the Australian and Asian defence sectors, expanding our export opportunities and giving Cowan the ability to tender larger and more diverse projects.

'For the last 30 years we have been the preferred supplier for recompression chambers for the RAN and US Navy as well as supplying vessels to many other navies worldwide. But our new link with JFD opens the Cowan brand to the worldwide defence market.’

Alternative uses for recompression chambers

Although Cowan’s recompression chambers are used around the world to support deep sea diving, they also have a variety of unusual functions. For instance, the Royal Thai medical department uses the chambers to aid gangrene, ulcerations, and post-surgery healing. They are also being used for research into positive side effects for people with autism as part of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.