26 sep 2014

Babcock begins Ramsey support period

Babcock will begin a six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)) next week on Sandown class mine hunter HMSRamsey, at its Rosyth dockyard. 

The refit, being carried out by Babcock under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA, the alliance between MoD, Babcock, and BAE Systems), will include a number of required upgrades and a substantial maintenance package to enhance the ship’s operational capability, sustainability and habitability standards.

The work package forRamsey’s support period has been developed by the Sandown Class Output Management (COM) team, drawing on knowledge of the ship’s material state and previous experience of Sandown class refits, to reflect the vessel’s needs and minimise the level of emergent work.

The 22 upgrades and improvements will include replacement of the power generation equipment, improving reliability; readiness for the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII), which provides a coherent infrastructure to enable information sharing and collaborative working across the defence sector network; galley improvements, including replacement of equipment with modern alternatives; installation of a new fire detection system, which extends coverage to additional areas; and improvements to the 230V domestic electrical supplies to enhance living conditions for the ship’s staff.

Maintenance work to be undertaken will include a large package of paint coating and deck covering renewal plus a complete hull blast and re-coat, slow speed drive alignment checks, essential underwater work, and complete overhaul of the ship’s boat crane and the reverse osmosis plant, in addition to the usual programme of planned maintenance and defect rectification.

Babcock Warships Managing Director Mike Whalley commented: “This is the fifth Sandown class support period to be carried out by the Babcock-led COM under the SSSA COM arrangements.  Drawing on our experience and knowledge gained from previous successful MCMV refits we look forward to delivering HMSRamseywith maximum efficiency, on schedule, and to quality and budget.”

HMSRamseyis expected to leave Rosyth for sea trials in spring 2015.