MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
16 Jul 08. Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S): Workforce. The Defence Equipment Minister announced (16 Jul 08) that almost 2,800 posts are to be moved from MoD sites in Bath, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire; this will increase the population of the Abbey Wood site in Bristol to around 10,000 by 2012.
Comment: The current DE&S workforce is around 24,500 but it is due to reduce to 20,000 by 2012. The 10,000 not in Abbey Wood by 2012 will be at various sites such as Naval Bases and storage depots. The Defence Procurement Agency (formed in 1999) and the Defence Logistics Organisation (formed in 2000) were merged on 1 Apr 07 to form DE&S. Such never-ending ‘tinkering’ with the workings of Government has become one of the hallmarks of the present Administration. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0829, 21 Jul 08)
15 Jul 08. Nuclear-powered Submarines: Decommissioning. The Armed Forces’ Minister said (15 Jul 08) that Project ISOLUS “remains committed to further public consultation before major decisions are made”.
Comment: ISOLUS stands for ‘Interim Storage Of Laid-Up Submarines’. Seven SSN are stored afloat at HM Naval Base Devonport and four SSBN with three SSN are at Rosyth Dockyard, but there is only limited capacity for further such storage. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0829, 21 Jul 08)
15 Jul 08. Type 42 Destroyers: Decommissioning. The Armed Forces’ Minister said (15 Jul 08) that the Type 42 destroyers were now planned to be withdrawn from service as follows: 2009 – HMS SOUTHAMPTON & EXETER; 2010 – HMS NOTTINGHAM; 2011 – HMS MANCHESTER & GLOUCESTER; 2012 – HMS LIVERPOOL & YORK and 2013 – HMS EDINBURGH.
Comment: The timing of withdrawals remains unchanged from previous plans but HMS LIVERPOOL and NOTTINGHAM have changed places in the order. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0829, 21 Jul 08)
Jul 08. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA): Presentation of Colour. HRH The Earl of Wessex, representing HM The Queen, presented (18 Jul 08) the RFA with a Queen’s Colour on board RFA Largs Bay. The ceremony was attended by some 600 Officers, Ratings and family members.
Comment: This is the first time that the RFA has been honoured with a Queen’s Colour. The RFA currently has 16 assorted replenishment vessels, plus six strategic lift ferries on charter. The replenishment vessels are to be replaced under the MARS (Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability) programme. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0829, 21 Jul 08)
21 Jul 08. The first Royal Navy warship to be docked at Rosyth under the fledgling Continuous Engineering Support (CES) initiative, the Sandown class Mine Countermeasures Vessel (MCMV) HMS Penzance, achieved contract acceptance date (CAD) early (17 July) following a refit undertaken by Babcock Marine. Under CES, the ships remain in fleet time for the duration of the docking period. This MoD initiative, currently being piloted on MCMVs, avoids time-consuming administrative and procedural issues associated with handing back the vessel at the end of the refit, and is designed to challenge traditional approaches, to ensure that the ‘right work is carried out at the right time in the right place’, saving time and cost over traditional upkeep repair periods, as well as providing flexibility in deployment of ships staff. HMS Penzance arrived at Babcock Marine’s Rosyth dockyard in December 2007 to begin her Ship Support Period (Docking) [SSP(D)], and has undergone significant work. This has included work on the mechanical and power generation systems, including removal and overhaul of all ship’s system valves and replacement of diesel generators, as well as fitting of a new, improved sonar towed body, and major upgrades to the crew’s living accommodation.
17 Jul 08. General Dynamics Information Technology has been awarded a task order through the ITES-2S contract by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to provide total information tech