Babcock has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of
Defence to commence the planning phase for the multi-million pound
refit of Trident ballistic missile submarine HMS Vengeance, to be
undertaken at Babcock's Devonport Royal Dockyard.
HMS Vengeance will be the fourth and last of the Vanguard class
submarines to undergo a Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)) at
Devonport - a project that will take around three and a half years
and involve over 2,000 personnel. The overhaul will include
furnishing Vengeance with the latest reactor core, as used in the
new Astute class submarines, fuelling the submarine for life, and a
number of updates and upgrades to her tactical and strategic
weapons systems, as well as surveys, hull preservation, and
overhaul of all the submarine's major components, systems and
equipment. The programme will amount to some two million manhours
when complete.
The planning phase for the LOP(R) will take 18 months and will
cover many key aspects. Detailed schedules will be produced, based
on the learning from previous LOP(R)s and will be subject to a
rigorous peer review process. All materials required and the
delivery plan will be established, to ensure availability and
supply when required, and a detailed labour loading plan will also
be produced identifying the resource requirement for the programme,
including specialist sub-contractors. Other tasks will include
preparation of the dock and dockside facilities, agreeing the
contractual terms and conditions of the LOP(R), and preparing the
documentation required to allow the work to be undertaken onboard
when HMS Vengeance arrives.
This phase will be undertaken by a joint team involving Babcock,
the MoD (DE&S) and Rolls Royce, each leading in their areas of
expertise. Combining the teams leads to efficient use of resources
and builds an effective team ready for undertaking the LOP(R) when
HMS Vengeance arrives in Devonport.
The LOP(R) on HMS Vengeance will commence once HMS Vigilant
leaves Devonport on completion of her LOP(R) in 2012.