The latest initiative to
improve Collins Class submarine
sustainment and availability levels has been revealed with the successful
hull cut of HMAS Collins at ASC in Adelaide.
The hull cut is a significant
step to reduce the amount of time the submarines are in planned long term
maintenance.
It enables equipment to be
removed from within the submarine so that maintenance can be performed more
efficiently.
The Defence Materiel
Organisation’s general manager Submarines, David
Gould, inspected the hull cut in HMAS Collins with ASC CEO, Steve Ludlam, at ASC this week.
“This shows real promise; it is
one of a number of initiatives being implemented by ASC to conduct full cycle
dockings (FCDs) in around two years rather than three,” Gould said.
ASC Chief Executive Officer, Steve
Ludlam, said that it is one of a number of initiatives being implemented by ASC
to improve availability.
“The strategy to cut the
submarine’s hull rather than work on equipment in situ increases efficiency,
reduces time in maintenance, and ultimately contributes to improved
availability of the submarine fleet.”
Following the release of the Study
into the Business of Sustaining Australia’s Strategic Collins Class Submarine
Capability (often referred to as the Coles Report) last year, ASC is
working with its Submarine Enterprise partners to restore Collins Class
availability to international benchmark levels by 2017.
“ASC is actively utilising the
information contained in the Coles Report to improve maintenance processes and increase
availability,” Ludlam said.
“The work undertaken on the
hull cut for HMAS Collins will be a key enabler to achieve a two year
FCD.
“ASC is undertaking a number of
innovative initiatives to improve submarine performance and availability.”
Other milestones this year have
included:
- ASC's completion of a scheduled intermediate maintenance activity for HMAS Sheean three days ahead of schedule;
- On-time completion of a certification extension docking for HMAS Farncomb in May, and ongoing routine support to operating submarines;
- Awarding of naval engineering authority delegations enabling ASC to take a more prominent role in the engineering decisions that are needed for effective and efficient sustainment of the Collins fleet.