UK Ministry of Defence, A multi-million pound contract has been awarded to Babcock Marine, owners of Devonport Dockyard, for a major upgrade to the Royal Navy's Plymouth-based helicopter carrier HMS Ocean.
The focus will be on improving the accommodation for sailors and Royal Marines on the assault carrier and further equipping her for her world-wide role.
The contract is worth about £30 million and covers the provision of maintenance and upgrade work on the 21,000 tonne ship. Work is expected to start this September and, following extensive sea trials, the ship will return to service in September 2008.
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During HMS Ocean's overhaul, the carrier HMS Ark Royal will take on her role of helicopter carrier able to embark a force of Royal Marine Commandos for amphibious operations – a role for which Ark Royal routinely exercises.
Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support Lord Drayson said:
“HMS Ocean is among the most powerful and flexible ships in the Fleet. This contract demonstrates our determination to ensure the Fleet is kept up to date and is effectively maintained.
“These improvements to accommodation, for both embarked Royal Marines and the ship's company, reflect the fact that HMS Ocean is now deployed much more widely around the world and is away from port for much longer periods than envisaged when she entered service nearly ten years ago.”
Dr Dennis Gilbert, Devonport's Chief Executive, added:
“This is excellent news for Devonport and its workforce. It follows major work packages on the assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark over the last two years and confirms our central role in supporting the Royal Navy's vital amphibious capabilities.”
The contract has been awarded as part of the developing Surface Ship Support Alliance which is the contracting approach being explored by the Ministry of Defence with the current providers of surface ship support/industry, Babcock Marine, to deliver effective, efficient and sustainable engineering support to the Royal Naval Fleet.
The year-long refit of HMS Ocean will involve the fitting of new sections of main propulsion shafts, extensive improvements in accommodation, including the provision of mess-decks (dining areas) in troop accommodation areas, storage for troop equipment, improvements to the galley (kitchen) and increased food storage areas, and an upgrade to the ship's aviation support facilities to improve support to the Army's Apache attack helicopter.
HMS Ocean was commissioned in 1998. Her primary role is to carry up to 800 Royal Marine Commandos supported by up to 18 helicopters and four Mk 5 landing craft. Secondary roles include training, a limited anti-submarine warfare role and acting as a base for anti-terrorist operations.
In 2003 HMS Ocean acted as the UK's lead amphibious landing ship during Operation Telic (Iraq) when she provided a launch pad and sea-based logistics for 3 Commando Brigade's assault on the Al Faw peninsula. She was most recently involved in anti-drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean.
