Babcock’s takes over the full upkeep of the RN’s Type 23 frigates
Babcock takes over the upkeep of the RN’s Type 23 frigates (Source: Babcock)
UK defence contractor Babcock has been awarded the contract to manage the Royal Navy’s (RN) Duke-class Type 23 frigates Refit Support Group (RSG), allowing the company to take end-to-end responsibility for vessel upkeep and regeneration in preparation of the frigates hand over to ship’s crew.
This innovative change follows more than five years of close working between the RN-led RSG and Babcock. It frees up RN personnel for frontline operations and creates new roles for 40 Babcock engineering technicians and managers at in Devonport facility in Plymouth, who now take responsibility for routine maintenance, addressing emergent defects and contracted upkeep projects.
Babcock’s Type 23 RSG engineering technicians will work alongside Babcock’s Upkeep Project Teams to ensure vessel systems are maintained and repaired. The move is targeted to improve vessel availability through more seamless management of upkeep activities. The change has already contributed to the success in returning HMS St. Albans back to sea three months ahead of schedule.
The RN currently has eleven Type 23 frigates in the fleet, five of which are currently available for operations, with the remaining six vessels in various stages of refit.
