Babcock awarded SMERAS contract
Babcock, the UK's leading engineering support services company, has been awarded a five-year contract, with the option to extend a further five years, to deliver submarine escape, rescue, abandonment and survival training (SMERAS) to the Royal Navy from a purpose-built facility at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde on the west coast of Scotland.
Courtesy Royal Navy / Crown Copyright
The contract will see training start in 2018 following the completion of preparatory work at the Naval Base that will include the development of Class-specific high fidelity escape towers and escape compartments. A standalone instructor-led live environment training pool will also be added, capable of replicating the environmental conditions that submarine escapes may have to be carried out in. The new facilities will also include; ‘dry’ classrooms where trainees can interact with new media that covers all the elements of escape, rescue, abandonment and survival training, new office facilities, workshops and changing areas.
By combining ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ learning opportunities Babcock will give trainees the chance to experience ‘real-world’ situations, without the need to use ‘pressurised’ environments. Using the new facilities to undertake Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT) compliant courses means that Royal Navy trainees will receive training ashore, which was previously not possible.
As a long term partner of the Royal Navy with more than 35,000 employees, Babcock knows that effective training is all about people and delivering tailored programmes to meet their needs. Working with fellow ACTS syndicate members at the Clyde Naval Base, Babcock has already developed a well-established and proven approach to shore-based training for submariners. This latest addition to the suite of training solutions will allow Babcock to continue to work with its customer to deliver trainees with a deeper knowledge and reduced skills fade using a systematic approach to training design that drives media content and the use of technologies.
Bringing submarine escape training to HMNB Clyde to complement the Astute Class training already in place at the naval establishment further underpins Babcock’s position as a partner that can be trusted to deliver skilled, assured and ‘safe to operate’ sailors.
Babcock Clyde Managing Director Simon Foster said: “This is an exciting development for Babcock and further underlines our commitment to work collaboratively with the Royal Navy to develop the solutions it needs to address the kind of operational challenges that modern navies face.
“We have some of the most effective training solutions on the market and take great pride in our ability to providing a bespoke service, not just an ‘out-of-the-box’ product.
“Our capability to combine the best personnel from both the military and civilian worlds has allowed us to build a service that is 100% Royal Navy focused.”