While docked in the River Tees, the HMS Protector has undergone an extensive update, including improvements to its electrical system.
Following its recent arrival in the North Yorkshire town of Middlesbrough, the patrol ship has had a substantial overhaul performed by UK Docks, the company currently holding its service contract.
While soon to depart Middlesbrough, the sole icebreaker in the Royal Navy’s extended stay of eight months has seen a £16 million upgrade. Following an intense maintenance survey, multiple problems were identified and tackled.
Director of UK Docks, Jonathan Wilson, commented:
“It’s non-stop at the moment but we like it that way. We’re very proud of the job we’ve done on HMS Protector. It was one of the most comprehensive and ambitious overhauls that UK Docks has been involved in and it brought challenges.”
The work included an update to the vessel’s dedicated electrical systems and the system that manages shore power supply, along with hundreds of improvements and tweaks, which included equipping the icebreaker to bear unmanned devices for surveying.
Firms based in places like Middlesbrough and Chester can use an electrician with the correct qualifications to perform not only scheduled maintenance, but also significant updates to electrical systems.
A crane weighing 60 tonnes was also removed and renovated before being refitted, while a new housing for key equipment and boats was installed. Additional work involved repainting the entire ship, which included an application of ice-class underwater paint for protection against the sub-zero temperatures of the polar regions.
