Australian tanker HMAS Success undergoes final refit

Royal Australian Navy tanker HMAS Success has completed her final external maintenance period (EMP) before she retires sometime next year.

The tanker underwent the procedure alongside Fleet Base East following her South East Asia, Indo Pacific Endeavour 18 deployment and participation in exercise RIMPAC.

EMPs are the chaotic phase between ships coming back from and returning to sea. Contractors support ships staff to maintain a tailored and balanced materiel state, with the ship’s engineering departments put through their paces. These periods aim to allow the ship to be inspected and refitted in order to maintain capability.

On return from extended deployment, the crew of Success enjoyed some well-earned respite then went straight into EMP, ensuring that the ship was in top shape before proceeding back to sea. Success’ EMP was conducted over six weeks and during that time completed a significant amount of corrective maintenance, which allowed the ship to safely return to sea for the first time in eight weeks.

Success’ Liquid Cargo Officer, Lieutenant Daniel Khayat, said the combined efforts between contractors and ships staff contributed to a successful EMP.

“The EMP was challenging to complete all the tasks and ensure the capability was available on time to allow us to proceed to our next tasking, but collectively we managed to work through it,” LEUT Khayat said.

Success has now deployed in support of Operation APEC 18 Assist before returning to Sydney for the Christmas break.