A model of Vietnam's submarine rescue ship on display at VIDEX 2022 in Hanoi. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
The Vietnam People's Navy (VPN) is in the process of fitting out its sole submarine rescue vessel such that it can also conduct hydrographic survey and medical relief operations.
This was confirmed to Janes by a representative of the country's state-owned Z189 Shipyard, who was at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition (VIDEX) 2022, being held in Hanoi from 8 to 10 December.
The VPN took delivery of the vessel, Yết Kiêu (927), in July 2021. The 93 m ship was launched in 2019 and underwent a fitting-out process for about 18 months prior to its delivery.
Submarine rescue systems that have been incorporated onboard the vessel include the Perry XLX-C remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from oil and gas equipment manufacturing company, Forum Energy Technologies (FET). It is also equipped with a 10 m submarine rescue vehicle (SRV).
The Z189 representative confirmed to Janes that the VPN is in the process of procuring equipment so that the vessel can be deployed for hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, although further details were not provided.
Further information from the shipyard indicates that the vessel displaces 3,950 tonnes with an overall beam of 16 m and a draught of 4.25 m. It can accommodate a crew of 30 and when deployed for medical missions, can be configured to accommodate up to 70 bedridden patients and 65 seated casualties.
In addition, the vessel has a working platform with a 600 m 2
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