Britain contracts Babcock for ship upgrade

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LONDON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A 15-month maintenance and upgrade to the British navy's HMS Ocean amphibious assault ship is being undertaken by Babcock of Britain.

The work, worth $105.4 million, includes more than 60 upgrades and includes installation of a new 997 medium range radar system; four 30mm automated small caliber gun systems that are replacing 20mm guns; a new fire detection system; a new information sharing system and a new command system.

Mechanical improvements include two major system installations: a first-of-class Membrane Bio-Reactor system, which treats waste water and sewage, and a further first-of-class ballast water treatment system.

"This is a substantial refit and noteworthy for its sheer scale, as well as representing an important milestone as the first to be undertaken by the Babcock-led Amphibious COM team," Babcock Warship Support Managing Director Mike Whalley.

"The project will be a highly complex and challenging one, with the team firmly focused on delivering Ocean fully refurbished, with improved capability and performance, safely, on-time and at optimum value for money."