Like proverbial nuts and bolts, Babcock Australasia (Babcock) and IKAD Engineering (IKAD) are the perfect complement to one another. Babcock brings strategic oversight and integration for seamless execution. IKAD brings specialist engineering capabilities, technical innovation, and hands-on problem-solving. Together they form a formidable duo, thanks to a relationship built on trust.
When Babcock needed timely repairs to two Royal Australian Navy vessels docked in the US island territory of Guam during the pandemic, it knew immediately who to call.
For more than a decade prior, mechanical engineering specialist IKAD had been delivering creative ‘outside the box’ maintenance solutions to Babcock as a valued member of its supply chain.
True to form, IKAD mapped out a rapid repair schedule for the Guam job, and within 24 hours mobilised from its Henderson headquarters to the Pacific, where its staff (with support from fellow West Australian supplier Franmarine) carried out in-water repairs on a shaft bearing on one vessel and an in situ temporary repair to a leaking stern seal on the other.
The swift response earned Nathan Miles, IKAD’s Engineering Operations Manager a Navy Commendation.
“Both vessels were on deployment in the region supporting operations,” Nathan recalls.
“That was a very challenging job – logistics, tooling equipment, dive gear, arranging local support… it was busy. Both ships sailed ahead of schedule in the end, and the ships’ crews were very grateful.”
Solid foundations
The Guam mobilisation is emblematic of the Babcock-IKAD relationship, which now spans 13 years.
“Right from the start, we’ve had cohesive working relationships with all of the Babcock project teams, delivering critical outcomes for the customer across maintenance schedules for deployed ships,” Nathan says.
The collaborative effort extends across Australia and internationally, including supporting Babcock’s New Zealand operations. There, IKAD has played a pivotal role in meeting undocking milestones, ensuring propulsion system readiness and undertaking gearbox repairs and bilge keel servicing on the Anzac class fleet on behalf of Babcock.
According to Nathan, the relationship has flourished because of the faith Babcock has put in IKAD’s processes.
A standout example is IKAD’s problem-solving on the Anzac-class Fire Main system testing, a critical safety feature to fight fires in an emergency. Testing was initially difficult, as it could only be assessed after the vessel returned to the water.
Babcock worked with IKAD on a smart solution, asking for support to develop a test regime that de-risked the undocking operation.
“We quickly proposed systematically testing sections of the system before the vessel returned to the water by using portable water supplies and pumps,” Nathan says.
“The depth of trust meant Babcock backed us. And they have continued to back our innovative designs and solutions. We’ve done technical in-water repairs on ships, for example, where OEMs or engineering experts have said it couldn’t be done, and Babcock has stepped in and supported us. These instances have resulted in seven figure savings for the Commonwealth.”
Knowledge is power
Babcock’s confidence in IKAD to tackle high-stakes assignments has given it exposure to unique problems over time, increasing the depth of understanding amongst its workforces.
“We’ve worked across every aspect of an Anzac class vessel, so there’s few surprises that come up that we haven’t seen before,” Nathan explains. “When we lay out a schedule, we can anticipate and factor in potential issues, mitigating delays before they arise.”
Such accumulated expertise underscores the value of maintaining high-functioning prime-contractor relationships, Jason Watts, Babcock Australasia’s Marine Portfolio Manager says.
“IKAD’s legacy knowledge fosters open dialogue, allowing pinch points to be addressed with frank, fearless discussions. This maturity drives meaningful improvements for the Australian Defence Force,” he says.
“They see the bigger picture, and in the long term, this broader context saves time and money. That’s the true value-add.”
It also brings assurances when handling intricate, infrequent tasks, such as the complex removal of a Propulsion Diesel Engine from HMAS Stuart during its IMAV11 maintenance cycle in 2024. It marked the first in-water completion of this task in nearly a decade and was part of the inaugural surface ship project undertaken by Regional Maintenance Provider – West (RMP-W).
Workforce upskilling
IKAD’s sustained growth in the defence sector has provided the stability to invest in its people, combining the expertise of seasoned professionals with the energy of newcomers to build a resilient, future‑ready workforce. It now employs around six apprentices annually within its marine operations and another six in broader workshop facilities, firmly establishing itself as a talent incubator.
“Our work with the likes of Babcock allows us to mould junior leaders into more senior leaders,” Nathan says.
Apprentices rotate through various parts of the business to gain diverse experiences in defence, mining, and workshop operations. This holistic approach to training fosters long-term commitment among employees, and importantly cultivates a workforce with skills aligned to industry need.
Ongoing opportunities
IKAD is committed to strengthening its role as a trusted engineering provider to Babcock, supporting the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA) and the growing momentum of the RMP-West service model, which includes the maintenance and sustainment of multiple classes of vessel rather than a single fleet.
“Early engagement with industry around how to boost outputs through the RMP-West service delivery model shows Babcock’s respect for us as a key supplier, and its commitment to success,” Nathan says.
Jason says Babcock continues to look for fresh opportunities within it enterprise to enhance the skills and knowledge of its supply chain.
“We are always looking at new activities to expose our suppliers to. IKAD is a business that has the right attributes, the right systems and the right processes in place, so they could easily assist on land and aviation activities for example,” he says.
Nathan echoes the optimism, seeing boundless potential for growth and collaboration.
“Our business has diversified and grown, and we have well-established workshops that gives us great facilities to support Babcock,” he says.
“Babcock and IKAD collaborate really well together, and I think that level of trust and respect will only grow. The future is bright.”