UKDOCKS Complete Royal Navy P2000 Ship Life Extension Programme

A Ship Life Extension Programme has been completed on 16 patrol and training vessels extending the out of service dates to the mid-2030s. 

The P2000 Archer Class vessels, which entered service between 1983 and 1998, are used for specific Fleet tasking including providing navigation and sea-sense training to students who are members of the University Royal Naval Units (URNU).

The capability of the P2000s was affected by main engine performance and breakdowns became more frequent.

In 2013 Navy Command endorsed an option to provide funding for a Ship Life Extension Programme (SLEP) and the DE&S Commercially Supported Shipping (CSS) Boats team started work with HMS Biter in 2013 before handing over the final naval vessel - HMS Puncher - last month (pictured).

SLEP Project Leader Steven Todd (pictured far left with Director of UK Docks South Charlie Barley) said: “ The Boats team have worked hard with our industry partners to deliver this improved capability on time and budget. This programme will maintain the P2000 availability well into the 2030s.” 

Simultaneous Repairs on two Dredger Vessels

UK Docks dry dock the Britannia Aggregates dredging vessel ‘Britannia Beaver’ in No 2 dock and Hanson Aggregates vessel ‘Arco Dijk’, in No 3 dock. Both vessels docked for their 25 year special survey and during survey, routine maintenance was carried out on both vessels along with various steel renewals, dredge gear upgrades and paint coating renewals.

TV Tristram 10 Year Survey

In order for TV Tristram to dry dock, UK Docks organised and arranged the tow of TV Tristram from her permanent mooring system within Portland Harbour. The vessel was towed approx. 450 nautical miles to UK Docks Teesside facility where the vessel was dry-docked. The work scope included shot blasting the entire underwater area and renewing all paint coatings and anode system, carrying out extensive paint preparation repairs to the entire topsides, superstructure, decks and applying a full new paint system in order to preserve the vessel for a 10 year period. In addition, various mechanical works were completed, new boarding platforms manufactured and installed to both port and stbd side of the vessel, a UT Survey was carried out which identified extensive steel work repairs which required to be carried. On completion, the vessel was towed back to Portland Harbour and re-connected to its 4 point permanent mooring system

 

Double Docking for GulfMark NS

GulfMark NS make full use of No 3 dry dock by double docking the AHV UT 722L Highland Valour and Highland Endurance, both of which are sister ships. Measuring a combined length overall of 160 metres, and a dry dock overall length of 167 metres, carefull planning and preparations were required to satisfy this tight fit.

Once docked, both vessels were mobilized for a prestigious contract operating off Trinidad and the main work involved was hull painting, machinery and pipework upgrades, routine vessel  maintenance and general survey inspections.  Both vessels undocked on schedule in good timing for their forthcoming charter.