UK: Babcock to Supply HMPE Rope, Technical Services to Royal Navy Surface Ships

Babcock has been awarded a three year contract to supply High Modulus PolyEthylene (HMPE) Rope and Technical Services to all classes of Royal Navy surface ships.

Under the contract, Babcock will provide services including management activities, new manufacture, engineering support, post-design services, technical support and training, relating to an all-embracing range of usage and applications of HMPE rope and fittings.

In delivering the contract Babcock will be supporting the innovative Rationalisation of Ropes Plan (RORP).  RORP involves introducing smaller, stronger ropes to replace all Steel Wire Ropes (SWRs) and large, heavy and often cumbersome synthetic ropes.  The new ropes are ‘multi-tasked’ to perform a range of functions (not previously possible), thereby minimising the number of ropes carried by each platform, reducing the manpower requirement and enabling traditionally manpower-intensive tasks to be undertaken more quickly.  A maximum of five different rope constructions are necessary.  The initiative supports overall operational effectiveness and safety of both platform and personnel as ‘leaner manning’ is introduced.

The HMPE Ropes and Technical Services contract is the latest in a number of naval equipment and asset management contracts delivered by Babcock, which also include fire fighting and damage control equipment, electrical and electronic components, electric motors, pumps, and domestic equipments.

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Naval Today Staff , March 13, 2012; Image: tootoo