WESTMINSTER – Turbine Change – Demonstrating the speed at which things can be done when working around the clock the workforce all only 17 hours after the last sections of scaffolding had been removed the Frigate was able to resume her duties.    The Type 23 Frigate WESTMINSTER had to be virtually cut in half - the key task being to change one of the 1.76 tonne gas turbines (the ship has two) a task that usually occurs roughly once every five years, and requires three large sections of the structure to be removed.    The bulk of the agreed 378 tasks (with a further 153 emerging during the maintenance process) were managed by BAE Systems.

The WESTMINSTER was soon back in the hands of Flag Officer Sea Training conducting a simultaneous RAS (Refuelling At Sea) with the Fleet Tanker RFA WAVE KNIGHT, plus helicopter operations (with an embarked LYNX HMA8) and anti-submarine training with her towed array sonar.