Babcock delivers generator set in HMS Penzance

Babcock has delivered and fitted a new generator set for HMS Penzance under the Sandown Volvo Generator Programme (SVGP), the company announced on 19 March. The generator set was set up as part of a deployed support period in Bahrain during the ship's Gulf deployment.

HMS Penzance is the third Sandown class mine-hunter vessel to receive the new generator set. Babcock undertook the upgrade while the vessel was deployed in the Gulf operating areas and was overlaid with other key work packages, including an air conditioning plant improvement package and other support period maintenance work.

The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) delivered in-theatre engineering support in Bahrain. The project was completed successfully and ahead of schedule in February.

The SVGP replaces the ageing Perkins CV8 diesel generators with more environment-friendly and efficient Volvo Penta D13 Marine diesel generators. It will be rolled out for all seven Sandown class mine countermeasure vessels over 18 months.  The first vessel to receive this upgrade was HMS Bangor, during a dry dock support period at Rosyth undertaken by Babcock in 2014.

The success of this programme enabled Babcock to undertake the remaining fits outside docked support periods, extending regular support periods by one week for the purpose. This was demonstrated successfully in the upgrade of the HMS Pembroke in autumn 2014.

Ambrose McDonough, Sandown Class Output Management (COM) team leader, Babcock, said: 'There were a number of challenges in successfully delivering this project, not least overseeing it at a distance of over 3,000 miles from the UK support infrastructure, in addition to the engineering challenges themselves.

'Extensive investment in developing robust and efficient communications was critical to success, and a very effective partnership was developed from the start between the COM Project team and the deployed DE&S Warship Support project sponsor, as well as the very supportive collaboration developed early with the ASRY engineering teams. We have kept all stakeholders informed of progress on all stages and all elements of the projects, which has been well received both in the Gulf theatre and in the UK, confirming Babcock as being trusted to deliver.'