Repairing the Type 42 destroyer HMS Nottingham has underlined the technical capability of Portsmouth-based naval support services company Fleet Support Limited (FSL).

The 18-month task, completed on time, has included a major replacement of systems, their integration and setting to work to ensure that HMS Nottingham returns to service as one of the most capable destroyers in the Fleet. Much of that activity has been concentrated over the past year following the initial structural repairs, which started in December 2002 when the ship arrived back in the UK after she hit rocks off the coast of Australia.

FSL Managing Director Ian Booth explained: “The repair task has been more than the equivalent of a refit and has involved FSL in managing a highly demanding and technically advanced project to restore the ship to operational condition. The project has taken our systems capability to new levels and demonstrated the quality of technical services that we can deliver. “It has also shown that Portsmouth, thanks largely to the FSL workforce and our naval partners, has a key role to play in major ship support programmes, besides confirming our position as a valuable resource for engineering skills in the region.”

Some 12 miles of electrical cabling has been replaced throughout the ship to bring equipment such as the ship’s radar, sonar and communications systems back to full working order. This has included integrating new and existing cable through fuse panels and switchboards. A new 2050 sonar and dome have been fitted and there has been considerable work in support of the weapons systems with both the Sea Dart missile and gun magazines having been submerged under water. The operational areas beneath the 4.5 inch gun were particularly badly affected with the power room totally refitted and the magazine rebuilt. In addition, control consoles in the Sea Dart quarters were replaced, rewired and ultimately set to work.

Two of the worst affected mechanical areas were the conversion machinery room and forward engine room which were both flooded. Mechanical work involved removing both the Olympus and Tyne engines with the former replaced and the latter pair taken out and represerved. The ship’s boilers have been replaced, along with high-pressure air compressors, hydraulic systems, part of the propulsion system and various mechanical and electrical machinery controls. Restoring controls links between the propulsion system and machinery control room was another major cabling task and the extensive replacement of machinery systems and controls again demanded a major setting to work package carried out by FSL’s Dockside Test Organisation.

FSL Head of Projects Dean Kimber explained: "Our new Dockside Test Organisation has increased our capability to perform more complex projects, such as refits, by adding valuable skills including systems analysts, trials and warden teams."

Restoring the ship to full operational capability included a successful period of sea trials and completion work before HMS Nottingham was officially handed over by FSL last Friday (July 2), nearly two years since the original incident.