Successful 12 months for local family ship repair business

HMS Protector, PSV Hellespont Dawn, PSV Hellespont Daring undergoing repairs

During 2019 UK Docks has enjoyed a busy year over all in its operations, including venturing into new market sectors.

UK Docks were successful in competitively securing a significant contract that started on the 1st April, from the Ministry of Defence, to provide in service support and annual maintenance for HMS Protector, HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise in order to maintain availability for 334 days per year.

During the past nine months the contract has been controlled from our newly built Head Office facility based in South Shields which was completed during February 2019. The new management team comprising of an Operational Manager, Vessel Managers, IT Manager, a Logistics & Procurement team and technical administrators operate from there.

In addition to the office facility a new warehouse facility was constructed to store a comprehensive volume of spares which are stored and maintained to ensure UK Docks can process demands for defects as they occur in order to maintain availability of the platforms.

Jonathan Wilson, Director at UK Docks, said: “During 2019 we planned, managed and coordinated all maintenance activity from our facilities on Tyneside. In conjunction with our Teesside facility we delivered maintenance packages as well as relying on our approved supply chain for work overseas. We are proud to bring this scale of work to the local area and are positive that during the 10-year contract we can continue our growth”

Jonathan added: “The Ministry of Defence naturally requires the highest possible levels of expertise and commitment when it comes to servicing its vessels. Throughout 2019, we have assembled a management team and a strategy to deliver on their expectations, which we are proud to say have been successful throughout the year. We are very pleased with everyone’s efforts and commitment this year and are ready to take the next steps throughout 2020 to continue to grow and progress.”

UK Docks ship repair facility in Middlesbrough has continued to develop throughout the year by extending the main office facility, stores facility, plumbing workshop and steel workshop facilities. During January 2020, two 30 tonne cranes will be delivered and installed between the two dry docks to improve the yards operational ability. In addition, the yard expanded their alongside wet berth repair facilities with the addition of the Heavy Lift Quay which runs adjacent to the dry docks entrance and measures 150 metres ong and benefits from deep water access.

UK Docks slipways and lift out facilities based in Tyneside, Gosport and Cremyl which specialise in providing support to commercial vessel operators such as BAE Systems, Babcock, Serco. The Ministry of Defence have been in continuous operation and occupancy throughout the year. During 2020, UK Docks will see further expansion in the opening of Royal Clarence Yard based in Gosport. Spanning 5.7 acres with direct deep-water access to Portsmouth Harbour, the site offers huge opportunities for future development within the marine sector.

HMS Protector Currently Undergoing Maintenance In Charleston, USA.

UK Docks are now six months in to their recently awarded 10-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence providing ship maintenance and through life support management services for the marine survey vessels HMS Protector, HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise.

HMS Protector (IMO 9233799) is currently undergoing a maintenance package in Detyen’s Shipyard in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. This is the second maintenance package in six months which UKD have scoped, planned and managed under the new contract.

The original maintenance period was scheduled to be carried out in Chille, South America but due to operational reasons a change in location was required which involved a huge amount of re-organisation at short notice in order to carry the works at another location.

In the main, the work scope included a number of class repairs, a 20,000hrs overhaul of one of the Rolls-Royce Bergen BRM/G 8 Main Engines, inspection and repairs to the coatings in one of the fresh water tanks, cleaning and surveying of the fuel tanks, repairs and maintenance to the  starboard anchor capstain and port aft rope winch, maintenance and upgrades to the ships electrical equipment and various mechanical systems, pipework systems and accommodation upgrades. In addition, the entire vessel was fresh water washed from the mast to the waterline followed by paint coating repairs to the hull, decks and accommodation structure.

The maintenance package is due to complete late November where the vessel will carry out comprehensive sea trials after which it will continue with its onward passage.

HMS Protector berths at UK Docks new quay facility, the Heavy Lift Quay, after four years deployed enabling Antarctic co-operation, science and conservation.

HMS ENTERPRISE ARRIVES ON THE TEES

UK Docks begins £150m contract maintaining Royal Navy marine research vessels.

HMS Enterprise arrived on Teesside today marking the start of a £150m maintenance commitment which will see Royal Navy ships regularly serviced and repaired in Middlesbrough over the next decade.

UK Docks clinched the major deal against strong opposition in October last year and as well as Enterprise, we will maintain two other ships, HMS Protector and HMS Echo, over the next 10 years.

Harry Wilson, managing director of UK Docks who watched the ship arrive, said: “This is an extremely proud moment for ourselves, as a family-run firm, and the whole of our workforce. “We are absolutely thrilled to bring this work to the North East and proud that we have the skill-set, workforce, facilities and financial efficiency needed to ensure essential Royal Navy work can be carried out on our shores.”

The three vessels are all 90 metres long and because of their important roles need to have an operational availability of 334 days per ship per year.

Protector provides a UK presence in the British Antarctic Territory and meets the UK’s treaty obligations for inspections, hydrographical charting and support of scientific research. It can also be called upon to operate in the tropics.

Enterprise and her sister ship Echo deliver defence, global environmental data-gathering requirements and associated war roles.

It will be UK Docks' responsibility to ensure their availability by, if necessary, overseeing maintenance and repairs across the globe.

Since the announcement of UK Docks winning the contract, the company has increased the size of its facilities on Teesside. It has also recruited a specialist team of marine experts to meet the specialist needs of the Royal Navy.

Jonathan Wilson, director at UK Docks, said: “The Ministry of Defence naturally requires the highest possible levels of expertise and commitment when it comes to servicing its vessels and we have assembled a team and a strategy to deliver on their expectations.“We are looking forward to showing what we can do and are ready to take the next step as an ambitious company committed to progress.”

Jonathan added: “We will be managing, coordinating and planning all maintenance activity from our facilities on Tyneside, but noting our dry docks on Teesside have the capacity to service all three vessels, whenever it is possible, the servicing work on them will be carried out there.”

Enterprise is expected to remain on Teesside for several weeks before putting out to sea again towards the end of April.