Babcock 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 programme’ for HMS Victorious, one of the UK’s Vanguard Class nuclear submarines.
The multi-year life extension programme will deliver HMS Victorious back to the Royal Navy modernised and improved, enabling it to continue operational patrols well into the 2030s. Work on the submarine is already underway, following a commitment by the Department to authorise early-works from July 2023. HMS Victorious is the second Vanguard Class submarine to undergo a life extension package at Babcock’s Devonport facility.
Through the HMS Victorious programme, more than 1,000 jobs will be sustained in the South West; Babcock is also continuing to build its workforce through its Plymouth-based Babcock Skills Academy, which includes a focus on submarine support and the critical nuclear skills required to perform ‘deep submarine maintenance’.
Babcock’s CEO David Lockwood said: “Delivering the programme for this vital and complex defence asset is our top priority. We are proud to have been awarded this complex defence programme which will use our deep engineering expertise to help keep the UK safe. Babcock’s supports all of the UK’s submarine fleet. The capability and experience gained through delivery of similar complex projects, combined with new ways of working, is being applied to deliver this important overhaul programme at pace.
“The programme is being delivered at Babcock’s facility in Devonport where a major infrastructure programme is underway to ensure the future capability requirements of the Royal Navy and the submarine enterprise are met for decades to come from ‘state of the art’ facilities.”
Another project completed this month saw Babcock deliver the Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans back to the Royal Navy for sea trials three months ahead of the planned schedule, following an extensive and comprehensive refit. While the frigate was in dock, Babcock engineers and other tradespeople spent around 1.2 million working hours carrying out a significant number of updates; these included a substantial power generation and machinery upgrade, the removal, overhaul, and replacement of both propulsion motors, and finally stripping and repainting her entire hull. Crew facilities were also improved and modernised.