Duqm Naval Dockyard (DND), the Joint Venture between Babcock International and ASYAD Drydock (Oman Drydock Company), has completed a first of its kind double engine replacement for the Royal Navy in the Middle East. Undertaken at Asyad dry dock facility at Duqm, in Oman, this complex operation to replace the Forward Auxiliary Machinery Room generators was a package of more than 500 items, and enabled the Royal Navy to sustain operations within the region as the latest example of Babcock’s global reach.
Commander Collins, Commanding Officer, HMS Montrose, said: “As the Royal Navy continues to maintain a forward presence around the globe, utilising Duqm as an engineering and logistical hub has provided an outstanding opportunity to conduct improvements and upgrades to HMS Montrose. It ensures we can sustain operations at reach from the UK and reinforces our strong relationship with Oman.”
Will Erith, Babcock’s Marine Sector Chief Executive, said: “Once again, our Joint Venture team has supported the Royal Navy in Oman, delivering an on time, to cost comprehensive maintenance programme, including the first Forward Auxiliary Machinery Room double engine replacement in the Middle East. Our global support approach underpins the service we deliver whenever, wherever our customers require.”
Part of an extensive fleet time support programme for HMS Montrose in the Middle East, the team also stripped back the flightdeck and fully repainted it; completed funnel cowling repairs; and built and tested a brand new, main shaft seal cofferdam. All activities during the eleven-week repair period were completed against the backdrop of strict COVID working protocols and challenging temperatures. Duqm Naval Dockyard offers global navies a comprehensive repair and logistics hub to support operations at reach and for sustained periods.
HMS Montrose is the eighth of the sixteen-ship Type 23 or Duke class of frigates, of the Royal Navy, named after the Duke of Montrose. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, and was launched on 31 July 1992. She was commissioned into service in June 1994. In 2018, it was announced that Montrose would become the first Royal Navy frigate to be forward-deployed to the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain.[3] The 2021 defence review announced that the ship would now be retired early, likely after her return to the U.K. from the Persian Gulf.
Following the signing of a joint venture (JV) agreement with the Oman Drydock Company in June 2017, Babcock international has been preparing and developing our already extensive expertise in working with international navies around the globe to deliver world leading engineering support from the Duqm Naval Dockyard (DND). The creation of the JV Company combines the experience and expertise of ODC and Babcock to establish a focussed warship repair and maintenance facility within the broader commercial Port of Duqm.
