Following agreement from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) as well as the New Zealand government through the Overseas Investment Office, the Babcock International Group PLC has managed to come to the buy-out of its joint venture partner in New Zealand, Fitzroy Yachts Ltd, and created Babcock (NZ) Ltd. The company offers surface ship maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

Luxury charter yacht Ganesha by Fitzroy Yachts

Babcock’s interest in the ten year management contract for Devonport Dockyard in Auckland was gained when the company acquired VT Group in 2010. The Dockyard Management Contract, which runs to 2014 with a further option to extend for five years, has been delivered through a joint venture company Babcock Fitzroy Ltd on a 70% Babcock, 30% Fitzroy Yachts basis. Babcock has now acquired Fitzroy Yachts’ 30% share and formed the wholly owned Babcock (NZ) Ltd.

Babcock (NZ) Ltd will continue to be led by Mike Wardlaw as Managing Director (following a career in the RNZN where he was Deputy Chief of Navy and Naval Support Commander), reporting to CEO Craig Lockhart , CEO Babcock Pty Ltd based in Adelaide, Australia.

Babcock (NZ) Ltd operates New Zealand’s largest marine engineering and maintenance support facility at its site in Devonport, Auckland, which is also home to the Royal New Zealand Navy and its fleet of thirteen surface ships. While support of those vessels is the primary reason for the management contract, the site also boasts New Zealand’s largest dry-dock which enables a range of commercial ship maintenance to be undertaken alongside Navy work.

Babcock (NZ) Ltd also owns a separate engineering consultancy, Marine Industrial Design which provides conceptual, preliminary and contract design services – including structural, mechanical, naval architecture and electrical design elements – for new designs, major modifications and conversions.

Rear Admiral Jack Steer, Vice Chief of the NZ Defence Force says: “Babcock (NZ) Ltd has been selected to be a major industry partner in helping us to deliver more efficient support to our front line operations, especially our Navy. We welcome their commercial expertise and considerable experience that can be transferred from their UK operations to help us increase our current capabilities by more effective use of resources.”

Babcock Pty Ltd CEO Craig Lockhart comments: “The formation of Babcock (NZ) Ltd follows Babcock’s recent strengthening of its Pacific region team and is further evidence of our expansion plans and commitment to become one of the Commonwealth’s high performing organisations.”