British mine hunter to receive maintenance, overhaul services LONDON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- British engineering company Babcock says it is beginning a maintenance and upgrade program on the Royal Navy's HMS Bangor mine hunter. HMS Bangor is a Sandown class vessel and work on it will be conducted at the company's Rosyth dockyard in Scotland. "The work package for HMS Bangor's support period has been defined to reflect the ship's needs and minimize the level of emergent work, based on knowledge of the ship's material state and our experience of previous Sandown class refits, to optimize efficiency and value for money," said Babcock Warships Managing Director Mike Whalley. We look forward to delivering Bangor on-time and in-budget. Babcock said upgrades include enhancements to the ship's galley and laundry, installation of modernized communication systems, and an updated fire detection system. The ship's existing diesel generators will be replaced environmentally friendlier and supportable machines, it said. Maintenance work to be undertaken on the vessel will include a large package of paint coating and deck covering renewal, a full structural survey, habitability improvements, slow speed drive alignment checks, renewal of all propulsion unit blade seals, shaft line overhaul, essential underwater work, and complete overhaul of the ship's boat crane. Upgrade and maintenance work is expected to take six months.