Cammel Laird completes biggest ever refit for RFA

Cammell Laird, Birkenhead is completing a £49.5m refit of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria.

The massive 10-month refit is the biggest ever undertaken by the yard since it began its through life support ‘cluster’ contract to maintain nine of the 13 ships in the RFA flotilla in 2008. The RFA Fort Victoria is one of the largest vessels operated by the British Ministry of Defence and is at the forefront of British naval operations.

Defence Equipment & Support, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Commodore Ian Schumacker, said: – The refit of RFA Fort Victoria is a great example of what can be achieved through collaborative relationships developed within the cluster contract support model. Cammell Laird have a proven track record in supporting RFA ships on a worldwide basis, and I am delighted that following this complex package of work the ship is now rejuvenated for future operations.

Cammell Laird chief executive John Syvret CBE said the company is pleased to see the refit completing to time and budget.

Cammell Laird managing director Linton Roberts said the refit has been the biggest single contract in the business in 2014. – It has seen more than 450 men work on it for nearly a year including apprentices, he said.

Cammell Laird project director Spencer Atkinson, who led the refit for Cammell Laird, said the extra preparation time provided under the cluster arrangement proved invaluable.

Mr Atkinson said the main jobs included overhauling both main engines and a power generation upgrade which included major steelworks, new fuel and lubrication oil as well as freshwater and saltwater pipework and pump systems.

– In the extensive dry-docking that has been undertaken we have overhauled the main propulsion and steering systems. The drydock works included blasting and painting of the ballast and cargo tanks, as well as ultra high pressure blasting and painting the underwater hull and painting the superstructure, which included all her decks.