Canadian Sailors Take Plunge in WA Submarine Exercise

04 December 2007

"It's very important when working together with other countries that we appreciate how the other one will respond," CPO Robert MacKay, from the Canadian Navy's Fleet Diving Unit, said.

Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers from Western Australia teamed up with their colleagues from Canada, Singapore and for the first time, the Peoples' Republic of China, to thoroughly rehearse rescue drills before they go to sea next week.

Each country brings unique and special skills and equipment to the Exercise.

The Canadians have come with an Emergency Life Support System, a carousel-shaped frame containing a five cylindrical containers, known as "pods" which rescuers use to deliver medical and emergency supplies and survival equipment into a stricken submarine through its escape hatch. This pod posting exercise can sustain life whilst the submarine crew await a recovery.

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