MV Swift Rescue is a submarine support and rescue vessel (SSRV) that is operated by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The ship is stationed in Changi Naval Base and has a mixed crew of 27 personnel from the RSN and Swire Pacific Offshore Operations Pte Ltd, the marine arm of Swire Group.[1]
In January 2007, the RSN awarded a design, build, own and operate contract to ST Marine, a subsidiary of ST Engineering.[2]
Swift Rescue has not been involved in any actual submarine rescue operations; the ship has however been involved in other operations, including searches. Swift Rescue participated in the ongoing triennial submarine rescue exercise in the region, Exercise Pacific Reach which involves regional partners such as the United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Navy and Republic of Korea Navy. The exercise is primarily meant to build interoperability within the region for submarine rescue capabilities as well as building relations between regional submarine operators and rescue assets. [3]
Swift Rescue was also activated on 29 December 2014 to aid in the search and rescue of Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 after the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency accepted the offer of help from the Singapore authorities. On 14 January 2015, the vessel found the wreckage of the lost airliner at the bottom of the Java Sea.[4]
Swift Rescue partook in its first submarine search mission after the Indonesian Navy submarine went missing off the waters of Bali during a torpedo drill on 21 April 2021.[5] [6] [7] Its ROV captured photos of the sunken boat at a depth of 838 metres on 25 April.[8]