Fleet Support Unit-West is joining forces with the Royal Australian Navy Submarine Training and Systems Centre for a joint project overhauling the technically challenging Hedemora diesel engines in the Collins class submarines.
The Centre’s Platform Systems Training Equipment Manager Brian Graves contacted the Unit in August this year and after discussions about the type of work, manpower requirements, competencies required and project timescale, it was decided the major overhaul could be completed as an alliance.
Production Manager at the Unit, Lieutenant Brian Gall said the project was in full swing and was very much a joint effort.
The alliance engineering component comprises engineers from the Australian Submarine Corporation-South and onsite staff at the Centre, and Navy marine technicians.
The enabling side of this project comprises Fleet Support Unit-West safety at height rescue teams and slinging and dogging teams from Port Services.
In its entirety the project will take six to eight weeks to complete with Chief Petty Officer Marine Technician Scott Rodgers overseeing the engineering side of it.
Chief Petty Officer Rodgers said:
The project has several specific modules including replacing the muffler, manufacture, assembly and fitting of the mounts, removal of the dynamometer, manufacture of some mass tuned dampers and fitting of a submarine specific generator.
The project is expected to be completed next month.
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Image: Australian Navy