Vanguard Magazine

18 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com INTERVIEW small vessel construction, chartering and marine technical services contracts to sup- port Federal Departments. Q To begin, please share with us a bit about Babcock's experience with the Victoria In-Service Support Contract program? For the past 13 years, Babcock Canada has been working alongside the Royal Cana- dian Navy, the Fleet Maintenance Facility, the Federal Government, and our indus- try partners, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards and BMT, to sustain Canada's fleet of Victoria-class submarines. Over the life of the Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC), our team has leveraged both its Canadian expertise and global experience in submarine sustainment to develop un- paralleled Victoria-class submarine plat- form knowledge and a strong Canadian supply chain. Babcock has evolved to be- come one of Canada's leading experts and trusted partners in submarine in-service support. Prior to the VISSC, there was little sub- marine industrial expertise in Canada. Babcock was able to leverage our global submarine experience and help develop a Canadian industrial sustainment capabil- ity. We continue to work and grow that capability in Canada and help support the Canadian marine industry. Q Can you expand on the undocking of HMCS Corner Brook and describe the process, and the challenges that were faced, and how they were resolved? The undocking of HMCS Corner Brook was a great success and a major milestone in the submarine's deep maintenance pe- riod. HMCS Corner Brook began the un- docking process in June 2021 after having completed her Extended Docking Work Period at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. We had moved her out of the purpose- built repair facility at the Esquimalt Grav- ing Dock where she was later transported to Ogden Point in Victoria, British Co- lumbia, for her return to water. The undocking was a complex evolution that occurred over several days, it was a true testament to the incredible work and cooperation required from a number of stakeholders across government and in- dustry, all of whom played a significant role in getting this strategic asset closer to being fully operational. This was a significant milestone for HMCS Corner Brook as she is returned to the Royal Canadian Navy for her return to operational service where she will be the most modern and technologically ad- vanced submarine in the Royal Canadian Navy. A submarine sustainment pro- gram plays an important part in supporting submarines throughout their lifetime. In Canada, Babcock has been spearheading the sustainment work of the Victoria-class submarines and is position- ing itself to support the future submarine sustainment program of Canada with its Team Victoria-Class. Recently, Vanguard had the opportunity to speak with Mat- thew Crawley about this subject. As Vice President of Corporate Develop- ment and Strategy with Babcock Canada, Matthew is responsible for the leadership of Babcock's Canadian commercial opera- tions including contracting, procurement, subcontractor management, supply chain, and delivering on Babcock's Canadian In- dustrial Technological Benefits program. Prior to joining Babcock, he held various executive appointments within the Federal Government, Public Services and Procure- ment Canada (PSPC), including Director General of the Marine Services and Small Vessels Sector, where he was accountable for overseeing repair, refit, maintenance, AN INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW CRAWLEY, VICE PRESIDENT CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY, BABCOCK CANADA SUBMARINE SUSTAINMENT HMCS Corner Brook. Photo: DND BY MARCELLO SUKHDEO

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