Immediately after the ship is in distress, the crew will broadcast emergency calls to the center, and at the same time launch signal buoys to announce the location of the ship in distress. Depending on the severity of the incident, the nuclear reactors could be shut down and the submarines only using batteries, according to Howstuffworks.
Deep diving rescue vessel (DSRV). (Photo: Howstuffworks).
Rescue efforts must take place urgently, often within 48 hours of the incident, because the crew faces many dangers when the submarine is in distress below the ocean. The most dangerous is the risk of sea water overflowing into the ship. In addition, they also faced a lack of oxygen , high levels of carbon dioxide and a sharp drop in temperature due to the shutdown of the heating system on the ship.
After receiving the distress signal, a large ship carrying rescue vehicles such as a deep diving rescue vessel (DSRV) , diving bells and inflatable buoys was quickly dispatched to the location of the ship in distress. The DSRVs will dive to the submarine position, attach to the top of the ship and connect to the “escape compartment” to create a closed emergency exit (the escape compartment is usually located on the top, front of the submarine, is specially designed in emergency situations).
Large ships containing rescue equipment such as deep-diving lifeboats, diving bells and inflatables approached the location of the submarine in distress. (Photo: Thinkdefence).
Enemies trapped in submarines will be evacuated to the DSRVs via the emergency exit. In many cases, diving bells (deep dive aids for divers) can be sent down to assist in rescue operations. Once all the crew is removed from the submarine, inflatables are mounted around the hull and then inflated to bring the submarine to the surface.
Submarine rescue and recovery depends on many factors such as the depth of the ship in distress, weather conditions at sea, current conditions and seabed topography.