Holyhead Marine: HMS Exploit Arrives for Repairs

HMS Exploit, Birmingham URNU’s training ship, has entered her for her Annual Slip and Repair Period (ASRP) at Holyhead Marine Service’s Boatyard in North Wales. Each year, every P2000 is taken out of the water for a four week period, during which machinery is overhauled, routine maintenance carried out and new equipment fitted.

In addition the hull is surveyed, a fresh coat of paint applied and any outstanding defects repaired by civilian contractors.

On passage north from Penarth to Holyhead, Exploit welcomed onboard her URNU midshipmen from universities around the West Midlands as well as Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme midshipmen. On arrival in Holyhead, the students disembarked late on the Sunday evening whilst the crew prepared to enter drydock and ASRP period.

The official start of the ASRP sees contractors embark for pre slip trials which include every system onboard from navigation lights to cooker, and generators to windscreen wipers. From this the contractors can begin to plan which systems need most attention, all the time consulting with the Ship’s engineers.

Before the ship enters the slipway and is lifted out of the water, a full power trial in the vicinity of Holyhead Harbour sees the ship’s engines put through their paces.

Exploit will leave Holyhead in mid November and begin URNU operations again with three more sea weekends are planned before Christmas Leave. Each URNU and P2000 aims to complete 15 sea weekends per year, a four week Easter deployment and a six to eight week Summer deployment.

Exploit belongs to the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron and is one of 14 P2000s allocated to University Royal Naval Units across the United Kingdom.

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Press Release, October 17, 2013