Through our Defence Marine Support Services (DMSS) contract in Australia and our Maritime Engineering, Technology & Sustainment (METS) business in the United States, we have a presence at coastal defence facilities alongside our customers, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and US Navy, respectively.
On land and at sea, our marine colleagues live our values and our commitments to people, place and planet. So, when our customers call for help to prevent an environmental incident, our colleagues are always ready to protect their home waters from harm.
As part of the DMSS programme, we deliver essential marine support services in naval and non-naval ports around Australia. This includes working with the RAN at each facility to monitor and manage any environmental incidents.
Glenn is referring to the emergency landing of an MH90 Helicopter on Captains Beach, near HMAS Creswell Navy Base, late one night in March 2023. HMAS Creswell is located within a protected marine park on the coast of New South Wales. Our DMSS colleagues at HMAS Creswell received a request from the RAN to provide support preventing any loss of lubricants into the bay.
Our team responded swiftly to the incident, working alongside RAN personnel until 2am, deploying an oil spill boom and other marine pollution response equipment to help limit potential environmental impacts.
The following day, our colleagues supported the recovery of the vehicle and clearing the site and were commended by RAN representatives for their contribution to managing the incident.
On the other side of the planet, our METS colleagues in Panama City, Florida, help US Navy scientists and engineers test unmanned aerial, surface and submersible prototype vehicles.
On one occasion in 2023, two members of the team helped to prevent an environmental incident involving a craft belonging to another US Navy contractor. A mechanical failure had disabled propulsion and steering and caused transmission oil to leak into the bilge. At the same time, the rear drive shaft seal was damaged, and the craft was at risk of taking on water and becoming a sinking hazard while moored at a Navy base.
Our employees moved quickly to gather the necessary tools and parts from around the base and repair the craft's drive shaft, allowing it to regain steering and move under its own power. Their quick thinking and expertise prevented major disruption to base operations and a significant environmental mishap on US Navy property.