UKSBS SSAPR18101 - OEM Engineer - Professional Service

National Marine Facilities (NMF) operates two ocean-going Royal Research vessels on behalf of Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook.

Both vessels undertake cruises to support interdisciplinary ocean research ranging from the tropics to the edge of the ice sheets and continental margins to deep ocean projects.

RRS Discovery's Tees White Gill (TWG) bow is the only non Wartsila item that affects the vessels propulsion system. The vessel is due to undertake her term dry docking in July 2018 as such the vessels TWG thruster will be opened and presented to Class for survey as part of this 5 year special docking. During the strip down and survey the shaft and other critical seals within the thruster will be changed out as part of the routine 5 annual maintenance requirements OEM attendance will be required to undertake specific measurements with regard to clearances, wear etc. and to compile a report for us and the attending Class Surveyor.

Both ships are subject to classification society regulations to remain seaworthy and annual refits are undertaken to ensure they remain in class. A classification society is a non-governmental organisation that establishes and maintains technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and offshore structures. The society will also validate that construction is according to these standards and carry out regular surveys in service to ensure compliance with the standards.

Guidance by an experienced and competent OEM engineer is critical in order for the refit yard to strip down the thrusters as required for survey and to rebuild the three units to the correct standards and procedures. Tees White Gill (TWG) is the only organisation that can provide this service.

Additional information: The Public Contract Regulations 2015 make provision for this contract to be placed under regulation 32 (2)(b)( ii) where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator in the event where the competition is absent for technical reasons.