Babcock Australasia has delivered its first major maintenance package on the Royal Australian Navy’s new Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ship.
As disclosed, the company, with support from small and medium enterprises, has completed more than 6600 hours of work, including more than 130 maintenance tasks, to HMAS Stalwart over a three-week period at HMAS Stirling, in Rockingham, Western Australia.
Commissioned in November 2021, HMAS Stalwart is the second and final Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ship built for the Royal Australian Navy.
The AOR is a class of double-hulled ship built by Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia. The Australian ships are based on the Spanish Navy’s Cantabria Class AORs. AORs carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support for deployed naval or combat forces operating far from port for longer periods.
In addition to replenishment, the vessels provide logistics support for the armed forces, combat against environmental pollution at sea, and support humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
The addition of a new fleet class comes after Babcock recently expanded its RMP-West portfolio to include Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). This work builds on Babcock’s extensive maintenance capability across Australasia and globally, where it supports more than ten navies.
“As RMP-West, Babcock continues to provide Royal Australian Navy ships with critical maintenance to keep their fleet mission-ready and sailing safely. We work closely with our valued supply chain which not only creates jobs for local communities but also supports sovereign defence capability,” Babcock Australasia Managing Director Marine Simon Spratt said.