The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) first Collins-class submarine, HMAS Collins (SSG 73), has resumed service after undergoing a planned maintenance period.
SSG 73’s capability upgrade was carried out in Osborne, South Australia, by local shipbuilding company ASC as part of a full-cycle docking and enterprise restructure of submarine maintenance works.
The Australian Navy submarine has reassumed its material control (MATCON) and responsibility following the maintenance programme.
The transfer of MATCON between the navy and the shipbuilder during different stages of the Collins-class submarines’ lifecycle represents a key aspect of the long-standing collaboration between the Australia Department of Defence and its industry partners.
HMAS Collins’ crew members will be responsible for supporting the final stages of the vessel’s maintenance period after assuming MATCON, include harbour acceptance trials, while working towards preparing the submarine to sail into the sea later this year.
HMAS Collins marine engineering officer lieutenant James Ferrari said: “A Collins-class submarine is an extremely complex platform made up of a multitude of interconnected and interdependent systems.
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By GlobalData“After a long period in dock, the task of ensuring that all of those systems function, not only individually but also in concert, presents significant challenges.
“My team has worked closely with ASC to ensure command is fully informed as to the state of the boat in advance of the transfer of MATCON, and that we were well positioned to step in and take over responsibility for the boat as soon as the transfer occurred.”
HMAS Collins was the first of the six Collins-class vessels to enter service with the Australian Navy.
The 77.8m-long submarine was originally launched in Adelaide, South Australia, on 28 August 1993 and subsequently commissioned on 27 July 1996.