Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, today released the report of Phase 1 of the Review of the Sustainment of Australia’s Collins Class submarines, the Coles Review.
The review is being led by Mr John Coles , an independent expert from BMT Defence Services in the UK.
Sustainment of the Collins Class submarines is at the top of the Government’s Projects of Concern list.
Mr Smith said the sustainment of the submarine fleet was a complex task that has proven challenging for Defence and ASC for a lengthy period of time.
In August, Minister Smith and Minister Clare released the terms of reference for the Review of the Sustainment of Australia’s Collins Class submarines.
This Review is examining complex engineering issues associated with submarine sustainment.
Just as the Rizzo Report provides a plan to improve the repair and management of the Navy’s amphibious fleet, Mr Coles is developing a plan to improve the repair and management of our submarine fleet.
“The Coles review is an important step in implementing improvements to the way the Collins class submarines have been sustained over a long period,” Mr Smith said.
Key Findings
Phase 1 of the report identifies a range of key issues that need to be addressed:
Interim recommendations
Phase 1 makes interim recommendations about how to address some of these issues.
Mr Coles’ interim recommendations are:
Implementation of these recommendations will commence immediately.
The Phase 1 report proposes the scope of work for Phase 2 of the review. Mr Coles has proposed four areas for detailed analysis:
In Phase 2, the review team will gather and analyse data to put forward well-evidenced findings and recommendations on how to improve performance in Collins submarine sustainment.
Mr Coles will provide the Phase 2 report in April 2012.
The Coles Review will also inform development of the Future Submarine Project.
Minister Smith said that “Problems with the Navy’s current Collins Class are of long standing and well known. It is essential that Navy and Defence learn everything they possibly can from the experience with the Collins Class to inform development of the Future Submarine project.”
“The implementation the Coles Review will help build confidence in our capacity to sustain our current fleet of submarines, so that we can turn with confidence to the acquisition program for our Future Submarine.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, December 14, 2011; Image: navy