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Abstract

The Royal Navy has an increasing number of standing commitments coupled with resurgent peer state aggressors. It is having to achieve more with the finite number of vessels it has at its disposal and is currently forward deploying complex assets. A key tactic in ensuring that these commitments can be met is by measurably increasing the availability of current in-service platforms for tasking. Central to this is the critical analysis and improved “up-time” of a small number of key, complex engineering systems. These systems, and by result, the platform, can be kept in a high state of availability through a variety of methods. Last year, a Type 23 platform forward deployed in the Middle East and supported by Babcock, achieved record levels of availability at over 98%. However, balancing the requirement for availability against reducing defence budgets is key. The Royal Navy and other global operators are turning to digital tools to achieve this increase in availability in the most cost-effective manner possible. Helping the Royal Navy deliver this vision, Babcock has recently deployed the ‘Digitally Enabled Asset Management’ (DEAM) toolset in support of a Type 23 frigate during a 2021 deployment. Babcock’s DEAM was configured to collate and trend data, monitor usage against a baseline and deliver recommendations relating to the use of the newly installed MTU based power generation system on board the vessel. This enabled the user to actively monitor generator usage in order to optimise equipment maintenance regimes and maximise system up time whilst minimising spare parts consumption and actively manage equipment time between overhaul. Babcock are currently investigating developments of this technology to incorporate further systems and de-risk the introduction of digital tools and technology on board vessels that will be transitioned in to service in the near term. This paper discusses the customer demand, technical requirement and process of developing the toolset; culminating in the successful deployment of DEAM on deployment. Lessons learned and future development ambitions are discussed, alongside exploration of future applications on board Babcock’s AH140 type vessels i.e. Type 31, future Type 26 vessels, or indigenously designed vessels for foreign navy programmes.

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