NATO ISMERLO
Software platform for submarine rescue missions
Project summary
NATO's International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO) plays a critical role in coordinating global submarine search and rescue operations. The organization's mission is to prevent peacetime submarine accidents and respond swiftly on an international scale when emergencies occur. However, their existing legacy system, which had served the international community for years, was becoming outdated and in need of a comprehensive update to continue supporting these vital operations effectively.
ismerlo.orgModernizing global safety: ISMERLO’s critical upgrade
NCIA’s head of maritime IT services reached out to Kellton Europe (formerly Tivix) for a system update to support the ISMERLO software platform.
NATO needed a partner that recognized the platform's importance; a system that would provide submariners hope and save lives in real-world emergencies. Following an NATO International Competitive Bidding process, we were selected as a product partner for the ISMERLO system because of our proven ability to develop complex systems quickly, extensive skill range and our experience with similar international organizations.
We rebuilt a complete Planning and Logistical level Command and Control (C2) system that enables mission commanders to exchange information effectively with personnel, resources, and procedures needed for rescue missions.
If a submarine has an emergency, the software finds the nearest teams and coordinates rescue and medical help to bring personnel from the seabed to the surface.
A complex mission with high stakes
01
Modernize an outdated legacy system into a state-of-the-art platform for coordinating global submarine rescue missions.
02
Ensure the system is robust enough to manage highly technical and sensitive information.
03
Maintain user-friendliness and accessibility for international teams during crises.
04
Seamlessly integrate with various external services and data sources, including accurate bathymetric data for locating distressed vessels.
05
Address security challenges due to handling potentially classified information from an international military alliance.
06
Meet NATO's stringent cybersecurity standards without compromising performance or usability.
Building the future of submarine rescue operations
A major goal of the project was to use modern open-source technologies to make the rescue system easier to maintain, and compatible with the latest web browsers.
Technology stack
The ISMERLO 2.0 web application is built using Django as the web application framework, with React as a frontend framework generating dynamic content in tandem with SASS/SCSS.
Data integration
Kellton Europe integrated the system with various external services and data sources. Incorporating accurate bathymetric data was crucial, as it allows the system to plot active vessels in distress.
Security focus
Given that the system is used for an international military alliance, it deals with potentially sensitive and classified information. Therefore security was of paramount importance, and we worked closely with NATO’s cybersecurity team to conduct extensive vulnerability testing.
Scalability & stability
Stability and scalability are essential for any emergency system. Our DevOps team orchestrated and deployed the application using a Kubernetes cluster on AWS. The system is designed for seamless scalability, as emergency situations can lead to a surge in demand on servers.
Life-saving precision
At the core of this solution is the Deployment Calculator, an advanced tool crafted to optimize submarine rescue missions with unparalleled precision and speed.
The Deployment Calculator analyzes a comprehensive set of data to determine the most effective deployment strategies in real-time rescue scenarios. In situations where a submarine is in distress, every second counts - and this tool is built to deliver rapid, accurate calculations that drive the best possible response. By evaluating critical factors such as submarine location, available rescue assets, medical capabilities, and environmental conditions, the Calculator generates a highly detailed, actionable plan that ensures the swiftest and most effective response.
Enhancing global rescue capabilities
The updated system is now live and in real-world use. With over 40 nations involved in this project, ISMERLO continues to onboard and train new users across the globe. With rollout underway, NATOs capability to react to submarine emergencies is greatly enhanced.
Following final system acceptance, Kellton Europe remains under contract for ongoing product support, updates, and maintenance.
Deployment Calculator results
The ISMERLO system computes complex TTFI and TTFR calculations (Time to First Intervention and Time to First Rescue). Auto-generated scenarios with suggested rescue systems give system operators a quick starting point. Scenarios can be tweaked at any stage of the calculation or create them from scratch if necessary. The UI/UX was designed to make it easy to suggest and compare options while allowing operators to fully control the details.
Alert overview
The alert overview screen shows the key details of ongoing events. Alert coordinators can highlight what's crucial so others can react accordingly. The system updates on-screen data for other Community users in almost real time.
New alert
ISMERLO Community can quickly create new Alerts or Exercises. A basic submission form requests just the essential info initially. More data can be added and updated later.
This system is not simple at all. There is a lot of highly technical detailed information in there, but they have done extremely well; they've delivered every single one of the requirements.
NATO Communications and Information Agency
Maritime Service Owner