James Fisher and Sons Regulatory News (FSJ)

1 Jun 2005 07:02

Fisher (James) & Sons PLC1 June 2005 For release 1 June 2005 James Fisher and Sons plc Contract Gain: UK Submarine Rescue Service for Mediterranean Naval Exercise James Fisher ('James Fisher' or 'the Company'), the marine services provider,announces that it has been awarded a contract to provide a turnkey marineproject for the Ministry of Defence UK Submarine Rescue Service. Exercise'Sorbet Royal' is a NATO led international naval exercise in the Gulf ofTaranto, Southern Italy, taking place between 20th June and 2nd July 2005. The UK Submarine Rescue Service, managed and operated by James Fisher, will bethe principal submarine rescue asset participating in the exercise. The exercise will involve the Royal Navy and will incorporate rescue procedureswith submarines of the Italian, Dutch, Spanish and Turkish Navies. The exercisewill demonstrate operations with diesel-powered submarines including: • Location of the distressed submarine (DISSUB)• Intervention and monitoring of the DISSUB by Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV)• Supply of Emergency Life Support Stores in pressure tight pods• Rescue of DISSUB personnel to LR5 manned submersible to depths of c.150m• Transfer Under Pressure of personnel to recompression facilities on MOSHIP• Medical treatment and evacuation of rescued personnel James Fisher's defence subsidiary, James Fisher Defence Limited, will chartermsv Fennica, the Finnish ice breaker, for the duration of the exercise and willundertake all pre-engineering and installation work, acting as the host ship forthe LR5 Submersible Rescue Vehicle. The rescue system will be mobilised by James Fisher Rumic Ltd, which has, withits client the UK Ministry of Defence, managed the UK Submarine Rescue Servicesince 1990. The mobilisation of the ship and rescue system will againdemonstrate James Fisher's ability to undertake complete turnkey marine projectsto extremely tight schedules. Commenting, Simon Harris, Managing Director of James Fisher Defence, said: "The award of this important contract to James Fisher, demonstrates thecompany's strength in providing turnkey engineering and vessel chartersolutions, drawing on the expertise available within the group companies. OurDefence and Shipping Services teams will work closely with Rumic to co-ordinateall activities." Msv Fennica, owned by Finstaship and managed by GDV Maritime AS, will bechartered by James Fisher Defence for 39 days as part of a package provided tothe MoD's Salvage & Marine Operations Integrated Project Team. Engineering workand installation of the submarine rescue assets will be undertaken by JamesFisher Defence at Leith, Scotland, before Fennica makes her 2,500 mile transitto the Gulf of Taranto, Southern Italy. During exercise Sorbet Royal, Fennica will act as mother ship, providing aplatform for the UK Submarine Rescue Service and subsurface operations with theItalian, Dutch Spanish and Turkish Navies. More than 50 Royal Navy and MoDpersonnel will embark on the vessel, together with representatives from severalinternational navies. This latest contract follows the successful mobilisation of the Fennica for theexercise 'Flying Scotsman' by James Fisher in November 2004, which provided aplatform for the UK Submarine Rescue Service and subsurface operations with theNorwegian Navy, where 40 Royal Navy personnel, together with representativesfrom other navies were onboard during the exercise. Editor's note: James Fisher's submarine rescue expertise is widely recognised both in the UKand internationally and 2004 was an extremely busy year for the business. A new company, James Fisher Defence Ltd, was established 1 January 2005 withSimon Harris as Managing Director, to focus on the Group's defence activities,which it is seeking to expand. The key expertise, inherited from the Company'sJames Fisher and Rumic pasts, relates to commercial ship operation and submarinerescue and a new team is being built, based on existing resources, together withnew recruits with particular skills. The Company's view is that the sector will continue to offer good opportunitiesbecause limited resources will put greater emphasis on value for money, withJames Fisher well placed to provide its commercial expertise. Contact: Simon Harris, James Fisher Tel: 01229 615 460 07901 915 808 Peter Binns, Binns & Co PR Ltd Tel: 020 7786 9600 07768 392 582 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange