Defence Online

Babcock secures Royal Navy equipment and information contract

Maritime February 5, 2019

Babcock International has been awarded a configuration management contract by the Ministry of Defence for the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) surface ship fleet.

Supported by Allan Webb Ltd – who will provide specialist data interrogation skills – this four year contract, with potential extensions, will see Babcock assume responsibility for the Surface Ship Definition Database (SSDD), a tool used for the management of platform related data. Operation of the Master Record Data Centre (ships) (MRDC[Ships]), the core facility for ship information configuration services, will deliver major activities including:

Equipment ship fit configuration;
Ship datum document configuration; and
Defect report management via the Surface Ship Equipment Data Record.

The work of the MRDC (Ships) will contribute to ensuring that the necessary systems and equipment – including the associated maintenance and spares information – are available when and where they are required to meet RN and RFA demand.

The SSDD interfaces with numerous MOD systems enabling Babcock to efficiently deliver a holistic, surface ship management solution. Over the course of the contract, tangible benefits will be evident on existing programmes and new builds, including the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers with Babcock embedding and, where necessary, upgrading existing data management systems to aid through-life support programmes.

Babcock’s Data Centre near Bristol will host the specialist applications. Benefitting from strong supply chain collaborations, delivery of the MRDC (Ships) service will be driven from the core configuration team in Portsmouth with Babcock and Allan Webb staff co-located for essential skills integration across this important contract.

Simon Knight, Naval Engineering Director at Babcock said: “Babcock’s expert teams will support the delivery of first-rate support to our customer across this contract.

“We have been working closely with the Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence to support its critical assets for decades and we look forward to continuing this strong relationship.”