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Update from the Engineers
Following our return to Portsmouth at the beginning of May, all thoughts of Argentine dry docks and victorious Deployment Cup campaigns were put firmly behind us; it was now time to prepare ourselves for the upcoming Fleet Time Support Period (FTSP).
A FTSP is like a gigantic service for your car. Months before the start date, we engineers look closely at what needs doing and invite work requests form everyone on board and it is my job to compile this into what we call a work package. One of the big events of this past FTSP was a 40000 hour service of our two main Bergen diesel engines, a task that has kept our propulsion manager, CPOMEA ‘Nobby’ Styles very busy indeed. Many other essential pieces of machinery were worked on to ensure every runs as smoothly as possible for this deployment to Antarctica.
HMS Endurance in dry dock
All of this has to be fitted in around finally fixing the rudder, meaning we were once again in dry dock and had only 5 weeks to complete everything. Everyone was very relieved to go on leave at the end.
However whilst we enjoyed our leave, the work continued apace, supervised by our erstwhile colleagues from Fleet Support Limited and Superintendent Fleet Maintenance, Mr Dave Marlow, Mr Barry Salter and Mr Wayne Dugan. Barry has been a mainstay for ENDURANCE for many years now; his 43 year career in fixing warships has been pivotal in the success of our timely deployment and his no-nonsense attitude is legendary, borne out by some canny judgements as part of the Puerto Belgrano drydock team. This was the final FTSP for Barry as he retired on 29th September 2006. His legacy of detailed oversight and sound management will be missed by all, and ENDURANCE wishes him all the best for a peaceful retirement (just leave your phone switched on Barry, huh?)
Once back from leave and without dropping a stitch, the engineers were straight back into the fold with a series of trials (courtesy of Machinery Trials and Assessment Unit, led by Lt Cdr Steve Greenway) and a round up assessment by our friendly Portsmouth Flotilla Staff, which prepared us for a rather enjoyable few days down in the west country with the Flag Officer Sea Training Staff. Overall, the verdict was that there is room for improvement, but considering we had just conquered a rather intense, bruising work up period we were not too far away from acceptable. The upsurge of enthusiasm and esprit de corps was a distinct positive, the engineers showing this value in the many whole ship emergencies as being key to their success.
HMS Endurance leaving Portsmouth
With the last week was filled with maybes, buts and probabilities. We sailed on time at 1000 on 25th September 2006, Dave and Wayne waved us goodbye and no doubt breathed a heavy sigh of relief, but we made Barry come with us – just to the Solent before we bade a fond farewell and watched as Pompey disappeared over the horizon, once again. It has been a whirlwind return to Britain for the engineers it has required a huge effort to get us away on time both from Ship’s Staff and our support organisations.
We have achieved a huge amount in a very short space of time. Our focus is now firmly on maintaining our operational capability for the next 9 months and planning for the next service in summer 07 which will be much longer and more intensive. Four and a half months have shot by in a dizzying whirl and many on here say that now we are back at sea once again, it hardly feels like we returned in the first place. But the ship is healthier, better equipped and our confidence in her ability to withstand the rigours of working in the Antarctic is now restored. We thank those back in the UK for that.
We look forward to defending our title as Deployment Cup Champions – we won it last time out, you know!
WO2(MEA) ‘Slinger’ Woods
Deputy Engineer Officer
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