Beaufort surfaces as winner of UK MOD contract for next-generation Royal Navy submarine escape systems
Resolute SESE delivers advanced escape and survival capability for the Submarine Service. Beaufort, the global leader in submarine escape and
Our comprehensive range of surface abandonment solutions is designed to provide submariners with critical protection and survival equipment during emergency evacuations.
These advanced systems ensure reliable flotation, thermal protection, and essential nutrition for extended survival in harsh maritime environments.
Surface abandonment is a critical emergency procedure where submariners evacuate a disabled submarine that has been brought to the surface. When the submarine can no longer function or remain submerged safely, the crew must exit the vessel through designated escape hatches. This process ensures that submariners and other personnel can reach the surface safely and deploy survival equipment to increase their chances of rescue and survival in open water.
After the submarine reaches the surface, the escape hatches are opened, and submariners don their survival gear, such as the Personal Abandonment Lifejacket and Suit (PALS) or the Personal Abandonment Survival Suit (PASS). These suits provide essential buoyancy and thermal protection, enabling the crew to remain afloat and shielded from the harsh sea conditions while awaiting rescue.
To further increase survival rates, it is recommended that multi-seat liferafts like the Sublite Liferaft are deployed during surface abandonment. These liferafts, designed for rapid deployment, offer critical protection from the elements, reducing exposure to wind, waves, and cold temperatures. Liferafts allow multiple crew members to stay together, conserving body heat and improving visibility to rescuers.
In rough sea conditions, the use of a Freeboard Extension System is also recommended. This system increases the height of the freeboard by an additional metre, creating a safer environment for those evacuating the submarine and reducing the risk of injury or exposure during the abandonment process.
Surface abandonment is typically a last-resort measure, initiated when no other options are viable. It is designed to ensure that submariners can evacuate quickly, maintain buoyancy, and survive in challenging maritime environments until rescue teams arrive.
Compact and lightweight, the Sublite Multi-Seat liferaft provides rapid deployment and essential protection during surface abandonment. Its multi-seat capacity ensures efficient evacuation for submariners, offering buoyancy and environmental protection.
Fully integrated with a survival suit and lifejacket, PALS is designed for rapid deployment during maritime emergencies. It offers exceptional buoyancy, thermal protection, and in-water stability, ensuring submariners are protected during surface abandonment.
The Freeboard Extension System raises submarine freeboard by one metre, improving safety during surface abandonment in rough seas. Offered in internal or external configurations, it creates a secure, sheltered area that protects submariners and supports safer evacuations.
Lightweight and high-energy, these rations provide essential nutrition during extended survival scenarios after surface abandonment, ensuring submariners have the energy to sustain them in critical conditions.
This compact, multi-channel distress beacon ensures submariners can be located quickly after surface abandonment. It transmits real-time GPS coordinates, helping rescue forces track and recover submariners efficiently.
Resolute SESE delivers advanced escape and survival capability for the Submarine Service. Beaufort, the global leader in submarine escape and
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