Download - Royal Australian Navy

NAVY ENGINEERING BULLETIN MARCH 2003
17
hardstands, with full services for
maintenance or for securing
during cyclone season. Two berths
are undercover in the DNB
“shed”. During 2002 FIMA Darwin
conducted 109
dockings/undockings on the
syncrolift. This is by far the most
carried out in any previous year.
Darwin Naval Base is the home of
the Fleet Intermediate
Maintenance Activity Darwin
(FIMA Darwin). The primary
functions of the FIMA Darwin
organisation are to:
• Manage and conduct
maintenance activities on RAN
Minor War Vessels,
• Provide skills and knowledge
development/ consolidation
through exposure to maintenance
and other work on RAN platforms,
systems and equipment,
• Improve the condition of the Fleet
by providing workshop and
specialist assistance beyond ship
staff capability or capacity
• Provide urgent operational reliefs
to the Fleet
• Provide local engineering
specialist support services to
Minor War Vessels
• Provide a robust and reliable
organisation that services the
needs of the Fleet and returns
sailors to sea that are more
competent, confident and
motivated
• Promote and support the Navy
identity, culture and heritage.
• Provides a team of mobile
technical personnel able to
support the Fleet at short notice
away from their homeport
Workshop facilities are divided
into five major areas:
Engineering Outsides -
responsible for docking of
vessels, metal fabrication,
welding, maintenance of
refrigeration and air conditioning
machinery and woodworking;
Engineering Machinery -
responsible for maintenance of
main and auxiliary propulsion
systems, associated auxiliary
machinery as well as general
fitting and machining;
Electronics (Communications) -
responsible for maintenance of
communication equipment and
navigational aids (including GPS,
radar, gyro compass and echo
sounders);
Electronics (Weapons) -
responsible for maintenance of
weapons and hydraulic systems
and ship’s power generation and
distribution equipment;
Rigging and Corrosion Control -
responsible for abrasive grit
blasting and spray painting,
maintenance and testing of lifting
appliances, ship’s rigging and
maintenance of safety
equipment.
FIMA Darwin continues to provide
Darwin based and visiting ships
with very good technical service
and is provider of a professional
and skilled workforce where
sailors want to work. The
reputation of FIMA Darwin is
based on the diverse group of
incredibly dedicated sailors who
when called upon give their all to
support the fleet that enables
Maritime Command operational
commitments and agreed
readiness levels to be achieved in
accordance with the Maritime
Strategic Plan 2002.
While FIMA is the principle
occupant there a number of other
occupants that provide
operational support to
homeported and visiting fleet
units: