iscover
HMAS Parramatta has docked at Garden Island, Sydney, for a host of maintenance upgrades and equipment installations.
The Anzac Class frigate entered the Captain Cook Graving Dock, where she will undergo the first notable maintenance period since mid-2018. Planned upgrades include:
- A maintenance package to ship systems and propulsion plant;
- The installation of a “Quality of Life” system that will improve communications while at sea;
- A freshly-painted hull and super structure; and
- Improved internet connectivity for on-board crew.
Parramatta's Commanding Officer, Commander Anita Nemarich, said that this docking cycle builds towards a full work-up process, currently scheduled for early 2021. Once completed, this will ensure the ship's smooth return to operational capability.
“DSRA10 is an important maintenance period for the ship as it will ensure she remains seaworthy for her next two significant deployments prior to undergoing the FFH Air Mobility Capability Assurance Package upgrade in 2022,” CMDR Nemarich said.
“DSRA10 will see the installation of the new quality of life system, which will provide much improved internet connectivity when at sea.
“This will allow the crew to connect with their families more easily when deployed.”
HMAS Parramatta (IV) is the fifth of eight Anzac Class frigates built for the Royal Australian Navy by Tenix Marine Systems, Williamstown, Victoria. The ship only recently returned to her home port in Sydney following a busy 12 months of deployments that earned her the coveted Duke of Gloucester’s Cup for 2019.
This included a three-month deployment around the Asia-Pacific, sailing over 24,000 nautical miles and working with regional partner navies to strengthen interoperability.
The 118-metre Anzac Class frigate also deployed from January to May 2019 and again from September to December 2019 as part of a multi-ship task group.
