The company achieved the merit having successfully worked with the Defence Logistics Command (Maritime) to implement safety procedures for onsite workers in naval dockyards, thus allowing logistics and maintenance to continue safely. This consultation was undertaken as part of Babcock New Zealand’s agreement with the Royal New Zealand Navy for maintenance and repair.

Chris Saxby, managing director of Babcock New Zealand, noted that the plan had allowed the team to maintain their ongoing commitments to the RNZN while also operating safely.

“The biggest challenge was ensuring that we didn’t get community transmission in the dockyard as this would affect not only our dockyard workforce, but also the sailors who work here on board the Navy’s ships. Splitting our work teams into primarily red and green groups, with separate shifts and allocated workshop areas servicing specific ships reduced the risk of potential cross-team transmission,” Saxby noted.

Captain Mark Worsfold, Logistics Commander Maritime for the RNZN, commended Babcock New Zealand’s continuity plan amid the pandemic.

“Not only did we have to protect our sailors, but we had to protect the continuity of capability because our ships can be called upon to do anything at any time,” CAPT Worsfold commented.

“The Babcock relationship with the New Zealand Defence Force is very forward-leaning, they were with us all the way. Together, throughout our response to the pandemic, we didn’t compromise the safety of our people or our ability to support the Navy.”

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[Related: Babcock secures £150m UK MOD contract]

Liam Garman

Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Liam began his career as a speech writer at New South Wales Parliament before working for world leading campaigns and research agencies in Sydney and Auckland. Throughout his career, Liam has managed and executed international media and communications campaigns spanning politics, business, industrial relations and infrastructure. He’s since shifted his attention to researching and writing extensively on geopolitics and defence. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Masters in Strategy and Security with Excellence from UNSW Canberra, with a thesis on post-truth, postmodernism and disinformation operations.

 

Reach out to Liam via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.