HMS Scott has gone into dry dock at A&P Falmouth to begin an extensive Ship Life Extension Programme (SLEP) that will allow the ship to serve until 2033.
As we first reported in May 2023, it was decided that the RN’s sole Ocean Survey Vessel would continue in service for another decade beyond here original out-of-service date. This requires substantial engineering work to refurbish and update the vessel. This allows the RN to defer the cost of replacement while considering options for a second Multi-Role Support ship (MROS) that may combine hydrographic survey and undersea infrastructure protection duties. It is hoped that MROS(2) will be a new build ship constructed in the UK, but this may be subject to the outcome of the 2025 SDR.
Understanding the oceans, seabed profile and water column is vital to submarine operations and Scott directly contributes to operating the UK nuclear deterrent as well as more general hydrography and science missions. The powerful Sonar Array Sounding System (SASS) fitted to the hull allows Scott to survey around 25,000 square miles of ocean every month. During her lifetime, it is estimated she has charted 3.7% of the entire area of the world’s oceans. For most of the 2020s, HMS Scott has been conducting surveys of the North Atlantic and effectively forward-deployed in Gibraltar (her crew rotates on a three-watch system).
HMS-Scott-Survey-Equipment-2A&P Falmouth (part of the wider APCL Group, which includes Cammell Laird and A&P Tyne) is contracted to support HMS Scott has a unique understanding of the vessel having conducted previous dockings in Falmouth and overseen maintenance work done in Gibraltar.
The comprehensive overhaul will include a docking period in No. 3 Dock, a full hull sandblasting and repainting, and the replacement of several onboard systems including the installation of new water management systems, sewage treatment plants, thermal oil boilers, and LED lighting. The four Cummins generators will be removed for overhaul by cutting open the hull.
Work will also involve a complete service of the propulsion machinery and the mission systems. Improvements will be made to the accommodation and working areas and the galley will be upgraded.
A good investment… And clearly it carries out other work not in the public domain.
I think 2033 is closer than the MOD realise
That maybe the time it takes to refit here, we are talking about the MOD here and cost overruns guaranteed 😂😂
I just love brass hats and politicians airily deciding to extend the life of old hulls. Always turns out to cost more and take longer than expected because of that lovely word ‘growth’. Fifty, fifty bet it will turn out cheaper to have bought another Oil Rig Support Vessel and a new generation of hydro equipment.
Phillip
I totally agree. The best bet with HMS Scott would be to scrap it = right now.
What you forgot to mention is that we (i.e. UK) have two ex-oil rig support vessls now “in service”
Thus its replacement(s) is already in service!
If the working deck either Proteus or Sterling Castle were to be fitted out with a standard commercial-off-the-shelf towed / side-scanning sonar, then either one of those two ships could easily do the seabed survey task = starting immediately.
Peter (Irate Taxpayer)
Peter,
I agree. However, please note it is Stirling Castle.
Regards,
David.
David G
Fair Cop!
Peter (irate Taxpayer)
Oi rig support vessels or similar would not have room to fit the extensive full width sonar systems including swell compensators and very accurate navigation gear nor the multitude of large computers that store data taken at 1 metre spacings widthways and lengthways across the seafloor at a 1 kilometer width that is used by submarines to navigate at speed with all active sonar turned off. HMS Scott is still needed. She is not a normal survey ship.