This is a disgrace! BAE Systems hold the maintenance contract - how have these things been missed? Is it yet another example of the MoD contracting things out for private industry to run into the ground?
AD,
I think you've answered your own question there - If it wasn't in the contract then BAE cannot be blamed for the sins of omission.
Admittedly its been a while back but my blue-suited sojourn within the Procurement Executive brought me into contact with a wide range of suppliers of Defence Equipment/Services who, to a man, all had top level expertise within their Contracts and Finance departments whereas their loyal but lowly CS counterparts were, sadly, but 4th Division relegation-zoners.
It should surprise none that many, if not all, of the PE's projects overran time and budget purely because the small print had been very carefully written but less carefully read and signed. And so it appears to have continued.....
Plus ça change plus c'est la même chose.
I recall that the VICTORY's last big battle was with the dreaded, xylophagous,
death watch beetle in the '50s.
It was costly and no medals were awarded yet we won that one and I'm sure we'll eventually win this one, too.
"Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense"
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re: What is left of the original?
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"...So the only original part I understand now is the keel.">>
Sea Your History - HMS Victory