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Royal Navy Completes NATO Submarine Rescue System Trials
2 April 2026
Military and civilian personnel from the Royal Navy, Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), and JFD Ltd have successfully completed a four-day NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) exercise trial in Fort William.
The NSRS, delivered by the SDA, is a tri-national Government capability jointly owned by France, Norway, and the UK. It is a unique capability that involves over 150 trained personnel and is equipped to rescue a distressed submarine. Collectively known as the NSRS Operations Group, it comprises of divers and medics from the Royal Navy, French Navy, and Norwegian Navy, as well as hyperbaric nurses from QinetiQ and contractors from JFD Ltd.
The exercise is part of regular training that ensures the system is available and ready to respond and support the rescue of submariners wherever it may be needed. Taking place from March 23-27, the exercise followed a minor maintenance period of the Submersible Rescue Vehicle (SRV), known as Nemo, and ensured all personnel remain qualified.
The NSRS Rescue Vessel was transported to Fort William on a specialised low loader vehicle. Weighing 35 tonnes and wider than a standard lorry, the Rescue Vehicle was accompanied by a team of technicians and operators who supported the exercise.
A team of highly trained individuals are needed to operate the NSRS, and training is varied to keep them at their peak. The Loch at Fort William is deep and provides an excellent opportunity for the pilots of Nemo to practise their skills in landing and docking the vehicle onto a submerged target. It also allows the military Rescue Chamber Operators to open Nemo’s rescue hatch on to the target, which is the procedure needed to recover personnel from a submarine.
Team Leader of the NSRS and engineer, Commander Andy Sharp said: “The NSRS continues to be the most effective system within NATO for most conceivable submarine rescue situations, and it leads the world in its training regime. Exercises like this one prove to my submariner colleagues that we stand ready to assist, and although it is extremely unlikely that we will be needed, the assurance that we provide will be a comfort to those we ask to operate in the depths on behalf of the UK.”
The NSRS is a unique international capability that shows what can be achieved through positive collaboration. It’s considered one of the most capable systems in the world and this drumbeat of training exercises ensures it’s operationally poised.