TCG Alemdar Submarine Rescue Mother Ship (MOSHIP) entered service with the Turkish Naval Forces Command in January 2017.
It was designed by Turkish company SEFT based on the SNR-MOSHIP and was built by Istanbul Shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey.
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The ship is intended for a number of surface and underwater missions, such as search and rescue of submarine personnel, towing broken down and wrecked surface ships, removal of underwater debris, and underwater repair works.
The MOSHIP is capable of operating in adverse weather and sea conditions.
MOSHIP project history
The Turkish Naval Forces announced plans to procure a submarine rescue ship in early 2006.
Turkey’s Undersecretariat of Defense Industry (SSM) issued a request for proposals to four shipbuilding firms: Istanbul Shipyard, RMK Marine Shipyard, Desan Shipyard and Dearsan Shipyard.
Istanbul Shipyard was selected by SSM as the preferred bidder for the Turkish Navy’s MOSHIP project in 2010.
A contractual agreement for the construction of a MOSHIP was signed by SSM and Istanbul Shipyard in October 2011, and the launching ceremony of the MOSHIP (A-582) was held in May 2014.
Alemdar MOSHIP design and features
The Alemdar MOSHIP is built according to military standards and class rules. It features a monohull structure that was built using steel materials. Its bulbous bow design offers increased speed and fuel efficiency by reducing drag.
The overall length and length between perpendiculars of the vessel are 90.8m and 85.35m, respectively. The ship has a moulded beam of 19m, depth of 7.8m, draught of 4.45m and displacement of 4,200t, while the main deck has a clear aft deck area of 650m².
It can carry up to 130 people, including crew members, rescue personnel and crew in distress, and is able to hold 48t of fresh water, 21t of JP-5 jet fuel and 863t of marine naval fuel.
The MOSHIP’s command and control is performed from the integrated bridge system, which has been supplied by Turkey-based YALTES.
On-board weaponry and sensors
Self-defence for the Alemdar rescue vessel is provided by two 12.7mm heavy machine guns, which are mounted on the bow ahead of the bridge section.
The Turkish Navy’s MOSHIP is installed with various navigation and communications systems, including the ASELSAN inertial navigation system (INS), navigation radar, communication systems, gyrocompass, sonar systems and underwater acoustics capability.
ASELSAN electro-optic (IR/LLTV) sensors have also been fitted in order to provide 360° reconnaissance and surveillance in all lighting conditions.
MOSHIP search and rescue equipment
The MOSHIP is fitted with a range of search and rescue equipment that are essential to the effective performance of subsea and surface search and rescue tasks as well as underwater repair activities.
These include HARDSUIT atmospheric diving suits (ADS), personnel transfer capsules (PTC), a McCann submarine rescue chamber (SRC), launch and recovery system (LARS), and a towed side-scan sonar system.
It also features transfer-under-pressure equipment, dive systems, a NATO submarine rescue system (NSRS), a US submarine rescue diving and recompression system (SRDRS), and post-modern decompression / recompression pressure chambers.
A submarine ventilation system, pressurised breathing air system and HeO₂ mixed gas system are also included.
Two interconnected L-type SRV connectible pressure chambers are provided on board the vessel to facilitate the housing of up to 32 survivors.
A flight deck is fitted behind the bridge structure amidships to support helicopter operations, while the aft deck features a hydraulic / telescopic crane used for deployment and recovery of rescue systems.
Additionally, the MOSHIP carries one remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) and a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), as well as two rescue boats to assist during rescue operations.
Propulsion and performance of MOSHIP
The Alemdar rescue ship is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system, which consists of four 3,500kW generators, two 1,000kW tunnel thrusters and one 1,450kW retractable thruster.
It also incorporates two 3,500kW Rolls-Royce Azipull main propulsion thrusters, providing high manoeuvrability in all directions. The ship’s mobility is further enhanced by its controllable twin propeller system, while the on-board Class II dynamic positioning system offers stable position-keeping capability.
The rescue vessel offers a maximum speed of 18k and optimum speed of 14k. It has the ability to travel to a range of 4,500nm at 14k speed with a 30-day autonomy period.
The MOSHIP can provide emergency life support or towing services for crews of disabled ships, submarines or aircraft wreckages from depths of 600m within three days.
Contractors involved
Rolls-Royce secured a contract to supply propulsion thrusters for the MOSHIP in May 2012.
Imtech’s marine business unit Elkon was selected in June 2012 to design, supply and integrate all electric systems for the vessel. The scope of the supply includes electrical systems, bridge consoles, integrated logistics support and integrated vessel management system.
Istanbul Shipyard awarded a deal to OceanWorks International in July 2014 for the supply of submarine emergency ventilation and decompression systems (SEVDS), which are used to provide fresh breathing air to survivors.
Aykor was responsible for the integration of subsea systems and equipment for the Turkish Navy’s rescue ship, in co-operation with OceanWorks.
ASELSAN was contracted to provide integrated naval communications for the MOSHIP, and Turkish engineering firm FIGES performed structural analysis of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and ship control systems.
