ASRY signs RFA cluster repair agreement with A&P Group

Bahrain’s ASRY has signed a ‘heads of agreement’ with the UK’s A&P Group to become the repair yard of choice in the Arabian Gulf for two clusters of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels, involving five ships.

The Bay-class amphibious assault ship RFA Cardigan Bay in ASRY’s large graving dock this year undergoing her CSP (Contractor Support Period).

A&P Group was recently awarded a £53m contract for the long term maintenance of five RFA ships. The rolling 12-month contract covers work on the five vessels if and when they are in the Arabian Gulf area. At present there are two Bay-class vessels operating in the region at any one time.

The agreement involves a number of repair periods, ranging from a two-week alongside assisted maintenance period, through an annual certification period of around four weeks; to a six week contractor support period which includes drydocking. Each ship will undergo three AMPs, an ACP or a CSP in any 12 month period. There is also the requirement for voyage repairs, either alongside or via riding squads.

As well as improving fleet support, the new ‘clustering’ approach is estimated to deliver more than £330 million in savings over 30 years compared with the previous ad-hoc individual contract arrangements.