Melbourne-based BMT Design & Technology (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has completed a study for the Commonwealth of Australia, to examine a range of options for the Life of Type Extension (LOTE) of a wide range of Defence Maritime Platforms. This included the entire surface fleet of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), through to the LCM (Landing Craft Mechanised) and LARC (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo) vehicles of Army Marine.
Undertaking the study in two stages over the course of 12 months, BMT developed a risk-based approach to assess the viability of LOTE for 11 classes of ships. Unlike the approach taken by others, BMT recognised the importance of ensuring the study was not limited solely to material/condition surveys and incorporated the Fundamental Inputs to Capability (FIC). This allowed the full cost of operating the fleet within the various LOTE scenarios to be identified.
As well as identifying the costing options, the study provided an understanding of any impact on achieving availability targets while satisfying safety, environmental and technical risk imperatives.
Peter Sanders, Principal Consultant at BMT Design & Technology comments: “Our intimate understanding of the defence engineering environment provided the customer with the confidence that we could deliver a comprehensive study which met their requirements. We were also able to draw upon the knowledge and expertise from our sister companies, BMT Isis and BMT Defence Services, both of which have extensive experience of working in the defence sector.”
[mappress] Press Release,October 7, 2013; Image: BMT