Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has expanded its servicing portfolio to include Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), further strengthening its operational scope as Regional Maintenance Provider West (RMP West).
A four week Intermediate Maintenance Availability (IMAV) was successfully completed on NUSHIP Arafura in early April, assisting in setting the maintenance baseline for the new Commonwealth vessel.
Babcock’s staff and repair agents dedicated over 4,000 working hours to the maintenance effort, providing precision servicing to key ship systems along with multiple ancillary craft on board the OPV, including Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats and Rapid Intercept Craft.
The schedule was conducted simultaneously alongside ongoing work by shipbuilder Luerssen Australia, which has ensured the successful achievement of Initial Operational Release under project SEA1180.
The IMAV was RMP West’s inaugural maintenance task completed at HMAS Stirling’s newly extended Oxley Wharf on Garden Island off the coast of Western Australia.
NUSHIP Arafura is the first new ship and the first of its fleet class to undergo servicing through the Maritime Sustainment Model, a Defence initiative standardising RAN fleet maintenance while strengthening Australian industry and sovereign sustainment.
The addition of a new fleet class into Babcock’s sustainment portfolio builds on its extensive maintenance capability across Australasia and globally, where it supports six navies and employs more than 7,500 marine specialists. Babcock designs, builds and updates some of the world’s most complex ships and submarines, while providing through-life support to keep fleets mission-ready and navies sailing safely.
Quotes attributable to Babcock Australasia RMP-West Program Director Gary Potts
“RMP-West’s latest maintenance delivery was a milestone of firsts: the first new vessel, the first Arafura class, and the first use of Oxley Wharf for RMP West.”
“It marks a leap forward in efficiency, with streamlined maintenance procedures ensuring optimal performance and longevity for the fleet.”
“In addition to the ship’s crew, Babcock worked in close collaboration with stakeholders from the Regional Maintenance Centre, Navy’s Minor Vessel Systems Program Office, and SEA1180 contractor, Luerssen Australia.”
“Importantly it has given our supply chain repair agents exposure to a new asset class, including a substantial number of organic maintenance tasks that offered key learnings.”
“Babcock is dedicated to uplifting sovereign capability, while providing value and on-time delivery to the Commonwealth through our inclusive contracting model.”