David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 29 April 2011:

Why does it take 30 months for a full cycle docking of a Collins Class submarine, when this length of time is not comparable with docking cycles for other current classes of submarines operated by other countries?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The current Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) allows for a 36 month Full Cycle Docking (FCD) period, which includes provision for emergent issues, project implementation and contingency. The FCD is an extremely complex activity where the material state of the platform is assessed and restored to as close to initial condition as possible. This period is also used to install new capability which, due to its engineering complexity, can only be conducted during these periods, for example, heavy weight torpedo and replacement combat system.

Drawing on established relationships with Kockums from Sweden and Electric Boat from the USA, responsible for the sustainment of the Gotland and Los Angeles class submarines respectively, a maintenance benchmark study was conducted. As highlighted in Question on Notice 12 from the Senate Additional Estimates Hearing of 23 February 2011, the study indicated that there was no direct equivalent to the Collins class FCD and that other significant factors prevented a direct comparison of maintenance effort from being undertaken.