News
Mine Countermeasures
Third minehunter
for Estonian Navy
Abeking & Rasmussen is to supply the Latvian Navy
with SWATH hullform patrol boats.
propulsion and accommodation concept.
In a statement, A&R said the Latvian Navy’s
decision to adopt the SWATH concept was made ENS Ugandi is due to be delivered in January 2009.
based on the SWATH’s seaworthiness. ‘Up to eight
crew can remain at sea for a week, even under
adverse weather conditions to fulfil the tasks of the Babcock Marine in the UK has begun work at
new vessels, patrol and surveillance in territorial Rosyth on the last of the three ex-Royal Navy
waters and in the EEZ, as well as participation in Sandown class mine counter measures vessels
international assignments,’ said A&R. ‘Since the (MCMV) for the Estonian Navy.
fendering of the pilot boats will be retained, the Babcock Marine is undertaking a regenera-
25m SWATH@A&R Patrol Boats will also be ideal tion programme on the vessel (formerly HMS
for all types of boarding operations.’ Bridport), which will be re-named ENS Ugandi,
‘The new vessels will have a modular ‘mission following the company’s successful regeneration
bay’ in the fore ship. By fitting appropriate of the first two of the three minehunters sold to
mission payloads, such as a diving modules or a Estonia under an agreement signed in Septem-
mine countermeasures module, the capabilities of ber 2006. The first (formerly HMS Sandown)
the vessels can be enhanced,’ said A&R. was handed over to the Estonian Navy in April
Delivery of the first-of-class is scheduled for 2007, and the second (formerly HMS Inverness)
December 2010 from A&R’s shipyard in Lemwerder. in January this year.
Following the ship’s arrival in Rosyth in February,
Logistics Vessels work has been carried out to reduce the risk to the
MARS tankers
regeneration process, including docking the vessel
early in March to allow a full internal survey of the
shortlist
ship’s systems, equipments and living accommo-
dation. Externally, all the ship’s paint coatings
A shortlist of four companies has been selected to meet have been surveyed, and an NDE examination of
the UK Ministry of Defence Military Afl oat Reach and the structure carried out to establish a base line
Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Tanker requirement. for structural integrity. As a result of this survey
MARS consists of three elements: a Fleet Tanker, Fleet an early decision was taken to blast and re-paint
Solid Support (FSS) and Joint Sea Based Logistic vessels the outer bottom, sides and upper decks fully, to
(JSBL). Th e three classes will be procured incremen- provide improved durability to the coatings.
tally, concentrating initially on six double-hulled fl eet The project includes a number of challenges
tankers, which are urgently required in order to comply associated with the re-activation of a vessel that has
with IMO environmental standards. Th e FSS and JSBL been out of active service for a number of years to
requirements remain on hold for the time being to enable her to return to sea. She will undergo sea
maintain fl exibility within the programme. trials before transit to the Gulf of Finland and what
Th e four companies are Fincantieri (Italy); Hyundai will be her home port of Tallinn next year.
(Republic of Korea); Navantia (Spain) and BAE Following surveys in advance of the contract
Systems with BMT and Daewoo (Republic of Korea); start date of 9 June, the regeneration work is now
but it is unclear when the Ministry of Defence will under way, with handover of the regenerated vessel
select the winner. to the Estonian Navy scheduled for January 2009.
Warship Technology July/August 2008 7
WTJul-Aug08_p6+7+8+10+11+
12.indd 7 7/22/08 6:59:11 PM
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