Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd have been awarded the contract for the support and maintenance of HMS Protector (A173), following a competitive tendering process.
HMS Protector is the Royal UK Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship, and is deployed on operations for 334 days per year. The vessel was chartered from commercial service by the Royal Navy in April 2011, and purchased outright in September 2013. HMS Protector’s home port is HMNB Devonport.
In addition to the support of scientific bases in Antarctica, HMS Protector is also equipped for patrol, survey and humanitarian tasking.
In 2012 the vessel came to the aid of a Brazilian research station on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands following a fire.
Andrew Weir Shipping has operated in the British maritime industry for almost 130 years.
In partnership with the Ministry of Defence, AWS will support HMS Protector with the emphasis being placed on ensuring the availability of the vessel for operational deployment.
AWS will be responsible for delivering the availability by ensuring that maintenance is completed on schedule, the planning and supervision of refit periods and the purchase and supply of spare parts and consumable stores to the vessel.
In addition, AWS will be directly involved in any design changes to the vessel and if required assist with emergency response situations in partnership with Steller Systems Ltd who will provide emergency naval architecture support.
[mappress]