The Australian Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, yesterday announced that submariners in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will undertake pressurised submarine escape training which is being reinstated following the signing of a contract with The Underwater Centre Fremantle (TUCF).
"This contract will enable pressurised escape training to recommence at the
Submarine Escape Training Facility (SETF) at HMAS Stirling," Mr Combet said.
Based in Perth, HMAS Stirling is a facility whose primary purpose is to provide operational and logistics support to the RAN ships, submarines and aircraft based in Western Australia.
"The SETF simulates the escape from a Collins-class submarine including the effects of water pressure. Provision of pressurised submarine escape training is a critical component in the submariner training continuum," said Mr Combet.
"TUCF will provide instructors to supply SETF services, including in-water submarine escape simulation."
The contract will be for an initial term of two years for a fixed price of US$3.6 million.