Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has demonstrated the agility of its operations and depth of its regional supply chain after successfully delivering maintenance works on two Royal Navy craft operating in Australian waters.
In May, Babcock was tasked with an eight-week maintenance program on a pair of Pacific 24 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) in Far North Queensland, as part of an ongoing contract between Babcock International and Britain’s Royal Navy.
The Pacific 24 RHIBs are currently on a long-term deployment in the Indo-Pacific as ancillary craft to HMS Tamar.
The craft are known for their high performance and durability in demanding marine environments and are used in high-speed rescues, sea boat and boarding operations, force protection, stores and passenger transfers and diving support.
To enable the timely completion of essential maintenance on these boats, Babcock utilised its collaborative supply chain relationships to engage Serco to support the maintenance works in Cairns.
“This contract is a good example of where Babcock’s international reach and regional expertise combine perfectly to provide cross border support to our foreign allies and visiting defence forces,” Babcock Managing Director Marine, Simon Spratt, said.
“We are always driven to support our customer’s direct needs and provide the best possible solution. In this case, we utilised our local project management expertise and strong regional supply chain relationships to quickly identify suitably qualified and appropriately located sub-contractors and OEM agents capable of successfully delivering to navy standards and requirements.”
The scope of work included scheduled maintenance on engines, propulsion jets, navigation equipment and auxiliary systems, reflective of the arduous duty cycle of these craft. All work was completed on-time and concluded with post-maintenance sea trials.