15 May 2024
HMAS Hobart’s marine engineering department has been busy during Navy’s second regional presence deployment of 2024.
When not tackling defects and conducting maintenance, the marine technicians have made the most of training opportunities to ensure they remain current with procedures for immediate actions and plant recovery in the event of engineering casualties.
Engineering casualty-control drills are crucial in ensuring currency of marine technician watch keepers and training new members in progressing their technical expertise and watchkeeping proficiencies, with the aim of up-skilling their operator qualifications.
These drills provide opportunities to refine and learn new skills in communication and plant management for both engineering and Bridge teams.
Since departure from Fleet Base East, Hobart has conducted more than 20 hours of engineering casualty control drills (ECCDs), with a number of these evolutions being used as assessment opportunities for marine systems managers, marine systems controllers and marine systems technicians.
So far in 2024, Hobart has achieved five operator qualifications and seven harbour watchkeeping qualifications.
Leading Seaman Samara Tracey, a recently qualified marine systems controller, said the engineering department had taken to the increased training load with a fierce attitude towards self improvement.
“The ECCD windows provided me the opportunity to build confidence in my initial actions and communications when responding to defects in the plant,” Leading Seaman Tracey said.
“It’s great to see the team progressing their careers and the camaraderie it creates within our department.”
With the aid of careful planning and oversight, Hobart continues to conduct ECCDs throughout her Operation Argos period.
Leading Seaman Michael Schwarz, a recently qualified marine systems manager, said conducting ECCD assessments in an operational context added a sense of pressure and realism that was unparalleled when training on the Australian station.
“This ensures our people are best prepared for managing engineering casualties in an operational environment,” Leading Seaman Schwarz said.
“The additional inputs from outstations, namely the Combat Information Centre and Bridge, drive me to adopt a ‘fight to fix’ attitude to ensure we can continue supporting the ship’s operational goals.”
Hobart’s marine engineering department expects its focus to remain on training, with additional operator and harbour watchkeeping qualifications anticipated prior to completion of the regional presence deployment.
