The craft splashes down in the water

The UK team is made up of the LR5 rescue submersible, the Scorpio 45 remotely operated vehicle (ROV), a depressurisation system and a navigation tracking system.

The Royal Navy has retained the LR5 on a continuous contract since 1983 and, following trials and development with several different owners, bought the craft last year.

It is an integral part of NATO's rescue organisation, which is also made up of an Italian mini-submersible and an American deep submergence rescue vehicle.

The LR5's main role is to to provide a rapid reaction rescue service within North European waters and to complement the US team in a large-scale rescue.

The LR5 is loaded for transportation

The Scorpio can transfer vital life-saving supplies - including medical aid and oxygen candles to keep the air breathable for longer - to the stricken submarine.

The submarine rescue service is provided from the Renfrew headquarters by Rumic Limited and Global Marine Systems Ltd.

The equipment and motherships for transporting the sub-sea craft are maintained at a high state of training and readiness by an experienced support team of engineers.

A regular programme of exercises, involving both commercial vessels and those from the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service, is carried out to ensure that the team is ready for action.

These exercises add up to about 30 days of offshore operation each year.

The craft has also been involved in a rescue in June this year, when it helped the Swedish navy rescue 70 people in three days.

Rumic has also developed a submarine rescue mapping system (SRMS) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence.

The craft can be molilised in 12 hours

This is used to co-ordinate rescue equipment such as ships, ROVs and submersibles in event of an accident.

It can also identify the nearest team to the accident and provide vital information on its exact position, contact telehpne number and operational status.

Rumic, which was established 16 years ago, also runs an engineering workshop at Renfrew and a design office and workshop in Cumbria.

The company specialises in the use of remotely operated vehicles and submersibles within the nuclear, offshore and defence industries.

Its activities range from specification, design, assembly, test and trial through to commissioning, operation and refit of ROVs and associated equipment.