HMS ‘Pembroke’ Starts Sea Trials (UK)

Sandown class minehunter HMS Pembroke has left Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard for sea trials, following a successful Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)).

Babcock leads the Sandown class Class Output Management (COM) team, as part of the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA).

The comprehensive support period has involved a substantial maintenance package, plus a number of upgrades and improvements that have significantly enhanced HMS Pembroke’s operational capability, sustainability, and habitability standards.

Installation of the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII), which provides a coherent infrastructure to enable information sharing across the defence sector network, has been among the upgrades carried out, along with work to the ship’s high pressure air system which extends system life and offers cost and space benefits, as well as remote isolation of the waste water system (helping to prevent flooding following a hull breach), installation of a new fire detection system extending coverage to additional areas, and galley improvements including replacement of equipment with modern alternatives.

Additionally, the maintenance package encompassed an extensive paint coating renewal programme to all upper decks and renewal of most internal deck coverings (including a late stage programme of paint removal, hull repairs and represervation which restricted the timeframe for work between undocking and ship’s staff moving onboard), as well as overhaul of both main engines among other deep maintenance work.

Commenting on the successful completion of the docking period, Babcock Warships Managing Director Mike Whalley said: “We are delighted to have completed this support period safely, on-time and in-budget, including meeting some challenging timescales. The knowledge gained through this support period will now help the Babcock-led COM team to define the workscope for forthcoming Sandown class support periods to optimise efficiency and value for money.”

[mappress]

Babcock Warships, February 9, 2014