News Review: VTF upgrades RNZN Anzac frigate | ADM May 2010

VT Fitzroy (VTF) has successfully completed the first phase of the Royal New Zealand Navy's (RNZN's) Anzac frigate platform systems upgrade (PSU) on HMNZS Te Kaha at Devonport, Auckland.

The PSU for both RNZN Anzac frigates was approved in November 2007 at an overall cost of about NZ$57 million and the first phase includes the replacement of the ships' 3.2MW ‘propulsion diesel engines' with 4.4MW units.

The new engines will allow the frigates to reach more than 21kts (previously 18kts) before resorting to the gas turbine, thus saving on fuel costs.

Subsequent PSU phases will include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and integrated platform management system upgrades.

As Te Kaha, accompanied by the fleet tanker Endurance, deploys to SE Asia and the west coast of North America, VTF has now commenced work during what the RNZN terms an Extended Selective Restricted Availability (ESRA) period, on replacing HMNZS Te Mana's diesels.

The task is due to be completed by October.

Work on Te Kaha's diesels began last July and was organized in three schedules.

The first consisted of programmed maintenance tasks, defect rectifications and a number of engineering change proposals (ECPs).

Upgrading the diesels occupied the second schedule.

To enable the engines to be replaced required the temporary removal of the aft HVAC module and the 16 tonne launcher for the defensive Sea Sparrow missiles.

Also removed were both aft generators and the oil distribution boxes.

Altogether more than 100,000kg of plant had to be taken off the frigate and larger diameter piping had to be installed to ensure adequate cooling for the new diesels.

The third schedule involved a stability upgrade and compartment change in the after section, a communications upgrade and upgrading the Phalanx close-in weapon system.

With Te Kaha's ESRA scheduled for completion in December 2009 the partnering relationship between Navy and VTF was crucial to the success of the project, which totalled 125,000 man-hours.

In many areas, including the stability upgrade and compartment change in the aft section, VTF used the Just In Time approach.

Often the work to prepare or remove the old infrastructure, equipment or compartment began before detailed design of the new installation(s) was completed.

"This has been a most ambitious and complex maintenance period and all parties involved have risen to the challenge and the required outcome has been achieved," Commanding Officer, CDR Mat Williams said.

"As a result HMNZS Te Kaha is in a very good material state to undertake our next [deployment]."

"Given the lessons learnt from Te Kaha and the more advanced planning that we have now, the RNZN expect an even greater success with Te Mana and we at VTF are determined to deliver that," VTF managing director, Mike Wardlaw, told ADM.

In July 2004 VTF won a 10-year contract to manage the Devonport dockyard for the RNZN, including the repair and maintenance of RNZN ships.