Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has completed the first class Renewal 4 Survey on an Anzac-class frigate, managing extensive inspections on the hull of HMAS Arunta.
“A naval ship’s strength is not just in its steel but in the care it receives as the years pass. Maintenance is the anchor that keeps an aging vessel battle-ready and her crew safe, so these surveys become increasingly critical," Babcock Australasia WAMA Program Delivery Director Carl Blacow said.
As a regulatory requirement to maintain class of ship, the survey involved in-depth inspections of the ship’s tanks and exterior along with ultrasonic thickness testing of the hull.
“Babcock is committed to delivering world‑class sustainment for these vessels, so the Australian Defence Force is ready to respond anytime, anywhere," Blacow stated.
Class renewal surveys are conducted every four years from the commissioning of an Anzac-class frigate. As the oldest in-service Anzac-class frigate in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), HMAS Arunta was the first to undergo the class Renewal 4 Survey.
“I commend our team at Garden Island in Sydney, as well as WAMA staff around the country supporting the waterfront work, for the dedication they show in keeping these important Navy assets seaworthy and fit for service," Blacow highlighted.
The work was completed concurrently to a scheduled maintenance period led by Babcock on behalf of the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA) alliance. The External Maintenance Period (EMP) was the last in-water maintenance activity delivered at Fleet Base East on Garden Island in Sydney under the WAMA operating model.
In total, over 40,000 hours of planned and corrective maintenance was delivered during the nine-week Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) EMP, which also incorporated over 70 growth and Urgent Defect tasks to optimise platform capability and system performance.
HMAS Arunta will return to operational readiness on time for Navy taskings and deployment in 2025.