Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. (Phoenix), as prime contractor for operation and maintenance of the US Navy's submarine rescue system, effectively executed its responsibilities during the recently completed, highly successful and realistic submarine rescue exercise, Bold Monarch 2008. During the exercise, the PRMS mated with the Royal Norwegian Navy submarine, Uthang (S304); the Royal Netherland Navy's, Dolfijn (S808); and the Polish Republic Navy's Sep (S295) a total of 13 times, and safely transferred 203 personnel.

Phoenix was responsible for planning and overseeing the transportation of the Pressurized Rescue Module System (PRMS) and its installation aboard the USNS Apache, (T-ATF 172). The Phoenix support team thereafter conducted all piloting operations to include navigating and positioning the system in a manner that allowed mating to the simulated disabled submarine and transfer of actual personnel simulating disabled submarine rescuees. The mobilization of the PRMS and its launch and recovery system took place in Stavanger, Norway.

The PRMS is a key element of the US Navy's Submarine Rescue Diving Recompression System; itself the next generation replacement capability for the current Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle. Bold Monarch 2008 was conducted in the North Sea from 26 May to 6 June 2008, and proved to be a highly successful international submarine rescue exercise involving 24 nations. Current state-of-the-art rescue capabilities of the United States, Great Britain, France, Norway, and Russia were routinely demonstrated during this precedent setting exercise. Each of the three deployed rescue systems successfully mated with "distressed" (bottomed) submarines with the PRMS and NATO rescue submersible also effecting first ever, safe transfer of personnel in water depths to 140 meters.

Phoenix provides manned and unmanned underwater operations, design engineering, and project management services to clients in the offshore oil & gas, defense, and other ocean-interest industries worldwide. Expertise is available from six regional offices in the areas of wet and dry hyperbaric welding, conventional and atmospheric diving, robotic systems, and tooling. Our capabilities support subsea tieback; infield development; underwater inspection, maintenance and repair; construction; deep ocean search & recovery; and submarine rescue.

Website: Bold Monarch 2008