Feature 3 | AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS
Ocean upgrade approaches
completion
Th e Royal Navy’s largest warship, the amphibious helicopter carrier HMS
Ocean, is approaching completion of a multi-million pound upgrade and
maintenance programme by Babcock Marine.
n addition to the significant fully refurbished and reconfi gured galley solid waste disposal system based on
maintenance and defect rectifi cation and increased food storage areas; and the thermal destruction technique);
Ielement, this large and complex improvements to shipboard systems such application of new foul release
programme includes extensive as HP salt water, fresh water, scuppers and technology to prevent marine growth
improvements to accommodation drains and sewage. and provide through-life fuel savings;
including heads and bathrooms, provision The project also includes fitting new and equipping the ship with advanced
of mess-decks in troop accommodation sections of main propulsion shafts; communications facilities and a better
areas, storage for troop equipment, a installing new pyrolysis equipment (a weapon defence system, as well as an
upgrade to the aviation support facilities
to improve support to the Apache
attack helicopter.
Commissioned in 1998, this 12
month second Docking Period (DP2)
will give HMS Ocean a new lease of life
and, importantly, despite the scale and
complexity of the programme, which
includes more than 40 alterations and
additions (A&As), and a work package
that has increased considerably in size,
all milestones to date have been achieved
on-time or ahead of schedule, Babcock
Marine project manager Graham
Clark explained.
‘Undocking aft er just over six months
in dry dock took place at the end of May,
following flood-up 13 days ahead of
contract date,' said Mr Clark. 'Ship’s staff
move on board in July, with a Ready For
Sea Date (RFSD) in August.’
Clark puts this success to date down to
a number of key measures implemented
to maximise effi ciency and keep time to
a minimum. ‘Advanced planning and a
visit to the ship during her deployment
facilitated detailed planning, early surveys
and timely material procurement, so
progress could be made before going into
dock,’ he said.
He also highlighted that fact that the
project has been planned for maximum
HMS Ocean was due to be ready for sea
in July following an extensive upgrade at
Babcock Marine in Devonport
24 Warship Technology July/August 2008
WTJul-Aug08_p24+25.indd Sec1:24 7/22/08 7:22:45 PM
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40