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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Babcock News

08 Mar 2024

Babcock Delivers Refitted HMS St. Albans to Royal Navy Ahead of Schedule

HMS St. Albans (Credit: Babcock International)

Defense company Babcock International has delivered Type 23 frigate HMS St. Albans back to the Royal Navy for sea trials three months ahead of the planned schedule, following a refit operation.Once the current sea trials are completed, HMS St. Albans, with her 178-strong crew, will return to sea as the most advanced, equipped, and capable Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy’s fleet, boasting next-generation weapons systems and radar, according to Babcock.During her time in dock…

05 Mar 2024

Ramping up Warship Production, Shipbuilder to Add 1000 Jobs

Image courtesy Babcock

Babcock International Group (Babcock) is creating more than 1,000 new jobs at its large-scale, advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding facility in Rosyth.The new job opportunities will include 400 apprenticeships, 350 production support operatives, skilled engineers, tradespeople, and graduates to support programs like the Type 31 frigate design and build."Attracting and retaining talent is essential to the future success of our business and directly benefits the local communities in which we operate," said David Lockwood, Chief Executive, Babcock International Group.

01 Mar 2024

Babcock Tallies Contract to Refit UK Nuclear Submarine

(Photo: UK Ministry of Defense)

Babcock International Group and the UK’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) have agreed a full cost recovery contract worth an estimated £560 million to undertake the planned deep maintenance and life extension program for HMS Victorious, one of the UK’s Vanguard Class nuclear submarines.The multi-year life extension program will deliver HMS Victorious back to the Royal Navy modernized and improved, enabling it to continue operational patrols well into the 2030s. Work on the submarine is already underway…

31 Jan 2024

Babcock to Equip South Korean Navy with Submarine Weapons System

(Credit: Babcock International)

The defense company Babcock International has secured a contract for additional work on the South Korean Navy’s submarine program.The seven-year contract, awarded by Hanwha Ocean, is to manufacture and install the weapons handling launch system (WHLS) on Boat 6 of the Jangbogo-III class boat.Boat 6, namely ‘Jangbogo-III Batch-II Boat 3’, along with the rest of the class, will use Babcock’s air turbine pump and programmable firing valve launch system.Key elements of the WHLS will be designed and produced in the UK…

23 Jan 2024

Successful FAT of WINBS for UK Royal Navy

The new Type 31 Inspiration Class for the UK Royal Navy. Image UK Royal Navy courtesty Anschütz

Anschütz completed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of its Warship Integrated Navigation and Bridge System (WINBS) for the first ship of the new Type 31 Inspiration Class for the UK Royal Navy. Anschütz, as part of the Thales led T31 Missions Systems team, is delivering the first Integrated Bridge and Navigation System for the Babcock Type 31 Arrowhead 140 frigates in the New Year.The FAT was carried out by Anschuetz UK Ltd., who are responsible for the integration, testing and commissioning of the Type 31 WINBS.

04 Dec 2023

Armstrong Tapped to Lead Babcock Marine Sector

Image courtesy Babcock International Group

Babcock International Group (Babcock) appointed Paul Armstrong to lead its marine sector, delivering a number of critical UK and international defence programmes, including the UK’s Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy.With a career that started in shipbuilding in Barrow-in-Furness, Armstrong brings a wealth of wide-ranging industry experience to grow and develop one of Babcock’s core business sectors. Joining Babcock from Draken International, the aviation defence business where he was CEO responsible for operations in the UK…

28 Nov 2023

Babcock Awarded More Dreadnought Contracts

Artists impression of Dreadnought Class_UK MOD © Crown copyright 2021

Babcock has been awarded two further contracts for work on the UK’s new Dreadnought Class submarine worth a combined £121 million.The contracts include a 4.5-year £66 million contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide input into the development of the support solution for the UK’s new Dreadnought Class submarines. The new Class of submarine will replace the Vanguard Class in the early 2030s to maintain a Continuous At Sea Deterrent.Babcock will also provide the MOD with technical and management support…

14 Nov 2023

Babcock CEO Optimistic Aabout Further Type 31 Orders

(Image: Babcock)

Babcock’s chief executive is optimistic the company will secure further orders for the Type 31 frigate, and talks are ongoing with three countries who are interested in the ship.“We’re still optimistic about further export orders,” CEO David Lockwood said in an interview on Tuesday, adding that he had a couple of visits to potential customers planned before Christmas.“Warships are always political so they’re never done until they’re done.”Babcock is building the Type 31 frigate for Britain, and Poland and Indonesia have ordered vessels based on the same Arrowhead 140 design.

10 Nov 2023

Babcock Signs $916M Submarine Infrastructure Deal with UK Defense Ministry

Credit: Babcock

Defense contractor Babcock has signed a four-year £750 million (~$916 million) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), to deliver the infrastructure required to support and sustain the UK’s submarines for decades to come.As part of the major infrastructure program underway at the Devonport site, Babcock said it would deliver substantial upgrades to existing infrastructure that will support the future capability of the Royal Navy and the…

05 Oct 2023

Thales to Equip Polish Navy's MIECZNIK Frigates with Combat Management System and Sensors

©Babcock

Thales said Thursday it would equip the Polish Navy MIECZNIK (Swordfish) frigates with the TACTICOS combat management system, sonars, infrared sensor, and radars, providing the warships with multiple functions for detection, identification, command and control, and decision-making. The first ship is expected to enter service in 2029 through a strategic program, which incorporates a cooperation agreement between Thales and the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium (lead by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa).Designed to carry out a wide range of tasks at sea…

17 Sep 2023

Second Keel Laid for Royal Navy Type 31 Frigate

Source: Babcock

Babcock International Group continues its successful delivery of the Royal Navy Type 31 frigates with the keel laying of HMS Active, the second of the five-ship Inspiration class program.The two warships are being built simultaneously, with work continuing only meters away on the first of the Inspiration class, HMS Venturer.In keeping with tradition, Babcock asked their youngest apprentice, first-year Electrical Fitter, Robbie Dick, to place the specially designed coin under the keel.Babcock’s Type 31…

14 Sep 2023

Babcock and HII Team to Support AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Program in Australia

Source: Babcock

Babcock International Group and HII have combined forces in Australia, working together to support critical capability requirements for the AUKUS nuclear submarine program.The partnership builds on the existing agreement between both companies to partner in the UK and US on nuclear decommissioning, disposal and national security opportunities.Babcock and HII will collaborate to develop the optimal models for nuclear-powered submarine capability, including infrastructure, sustainment and the necessary skills development, to support the AUKUS endeavour.

12 Sep 2023

ABS Joins Project to Develop 40K cbm LCO2 Carrier

Maritime classification society ABS has joined a pioneering joint industry project (JIP) to collaborate on the development of a detailed design of a 40K cbm liquified carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier that meets Class and statutory requirements with Ecolog Services Ltd. (ECOLOG), Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. and Babcock International Liquid Gas Equipment (LGE).According to ABS, the ultimate design will maximize energy integration and minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while being cargo versatile and capable of offshore offloading…

07 Aug 2023

RRS Sir David Attenborough Gearing Up for First Antarctic Science Cruise

(Photo: British Antarctic Survey)

Britain's high-tech polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough is gearing up for its first Antarctic science cruise.Over the coming weeks, the crew and scientists on board the vessel will be carrying out a range of trials to test the ship's science equipment in both deep and shallow water around the Scottish coast. Among the tech to be tested are the vessel's moonpool, coring equipment and the ship’s workboat Erebus, all of which are critical elements of upcoming science missions.Erebus will be put through its paces with new equipment…

27 Apr 2023

$56m Allocated to Refurbish Three British Research Ships

Image credit Brian Donovan

The National Oceanography Center (NOC) is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the scientific research ship RRS Discovery’s predecessor being designated as a Royal Research Ship (RRS), while the modern RRS Discovery becomes the first Research Vessel to be refitted at Babcock’s Rosyth facility, 35 miles away from the birthplace of the original vessel in Dundee.To mark this 100th anniversary, the current RRS Discovery will also join its ancestral inspiration, the original RRS Discovery in Dundee fromJune 2-4…

22 Dec 2022

Babcock Wins £45 Million Contract to Maintain UK Research Vessels

RRS Sir David Attenborough (Photo: British Antarctic Survey)

The U.K. has awarded Babcock International’s Rosyth shipyard a £45 million (approx. US$56.6 million) contract to maintain its fleet of three scientific research vessels.The initial three-year contract, announced by U.K. Industry and Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani earlier this month, will see the large oceanographic and polar research vessels RRS Sir David Attenborough, RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook dock at Babcock’s state-of-the-art facilities in Rosyth, Scotland, for programmed maintenance and upgrade work.

10 Oct 2022

UK Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier Heads to Rosyth for Repairs

U.K. Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (Photo: U.K. Royal Navy)

The U.K. Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has left Portsmouth en route to Rosyth where the £3 billion aircraft carrier will receive repairs after breaking down off the Isle of Wight in August.The 65,000-tonne warship will enter Babcock's dry dock in Rosyth where it will undergo repairs to its starboard propeller shaft which suffered a mechanical defect as the ship left for New York. Inspections by divers revealed the shaft coupling had failed. Since the aircraft carrier returned to Portsmouth Naval Base in early September…

17 Aug 2022

Babcock Begins First Type 23 Post-LIFEX Upkeep

(Photo: Babcock International)

Defense company Babcock International has started a post-life extension (LIFEX) on the U.K. Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll at Babcock Devonport’s facility. It is the first Type 23 to begin their post-LIFEX upkeep, adopting a new innovative approach to recertification at the Frigate Support Centre (FSC).Babcock will be overhauling key equipment and carrying out design changes for new capabilities such as communications upgrades and mixed crewing. The Duke Class frigate will also receive a full spray coat on the outer bottom and ship side.Sarah Hilder…

17 Jun 2022

GUH Issues Defense Sector Innovation Call

Neil Gordon, chief executive, Global Underwater Hub. Image courtesy GUH

The Global Underwater Hub (GUH), in partnership with the Royal Navy and Babcock, has launched a call for innovation that aims to identify technologies and techniques used in the offshore environment that can be applied to the defence sector to address key problem challenges and generate efficiency savings.The joint initiative seeks to identify ways to increase the operational uptime of assets and reduce dry-docking periods by adopting and adapting existing in-water inspection…

08 Jun 2022

Høglund Delivers Automation and Control System for Ethane Carrier

The vessel sailing. Photo courtesy of Pacific Gas

Høglund Marine Solutions has delivered an automation and control system for the Pacific Ineos Belstaff, reported to be the world’s largest ethane carrier.Høglund esigned an integrated automation system with ship performance monitor and a customized control system.The technology was created to support Babcock LGE’s cargo handling system (CHS) and fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for the vessel, which is owned by Pacific Gas, the Chinese very large gas carrier.“Most of the groundwork was laid in early 2021 with an early design of an overarching integrated automation and power management system…

16 May 2022

Babcock Wins 10-year Contract for HMS Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers Dockings

© Stefan / Adobe Stock

Babcock announced on Monday it has been awarded a 10-year contract to provide dry-dock maintenance for the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth class (QEC) aircraft carriers.The £30 million contract follows a previous maintenance period where Babcock completed the first docking for HMS Queen Elizabeth at the Rosyth site in 2019 and includes all routine maintenance and repairs that cannot be done when the vessel is afloat. In addition to the scheduled dockings, Babcock will provide facilities…

16 May 2022

Babcock inks deal for HMS Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers Dockings

Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers at Babcock Rosyth facilities (Library shot)

Babcock won a 10-year contract to provide dry-dock maintenance for the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth class (QEC) aircraft carriers.The new £30m contract follows a previous maintenance period where Babcock completed the first docking for HMS Queen Elizabeth at the Rosyth site in 2019 and includes all routine maintenance and repairs that cannot be done when the vessel is afloat. In addition to the scheduled dockings, Babcock will provide facilities for any contingency dockings required…

26 Apr 2022

Babcock Starts Building First of Five Royal Navy Type 31 Frigates

Credit: Babcock

Babcock has started construction of the first of five Royal Navy Type 31 frigates, HMS Venturer, at its Rosyth facility in the UK.After cutting the first steel on the program in September 2021, the traditional keel-laying event formally recognized the start of the build, including placing a specially commissioned coin under the keel. On completion of the ship, the coin will be presented to the Captain and crew. The ceremony was held in the new build hall, the Venturer Building, which forms part of a £60 million investment program, on top of an additional £100 million over the last ten years.