Service Life Evaluation

Government Service Life Extension Program

Vessel Sustainment Based on Total Ship Service History

WHAT IS THE ABS SERVICE LIFE EVALUATION PROGRAM (SLEP)?

The ABS Service Life Evaluation Program (SLEP) is a custom program that provides a suite of life cycle management, engineering and inspection services for the sustainment of naval and government vessels. Designed to mitigate risk, downtime and repair costs, SLEP focuses naval ship maintenance efforts on structures and systems, based on actual sea service and system operations and maintenance profiles. With a risk-based approach, the service provides ship-specific recommendations for repairs, inspection or monitoring intervals, or modified maintenance actions.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A SERVICE LIFE EVALUATION PROGRAM?

  • Maximize government and naval vessel service life and mission availability
  • Prioritize allocation of restricted maintenance budgets and resources to targeted critical areas
  • Professional engineering data to aid in development of optimized plans for life cycle management
  • Identify trends and take actions across a class of vessels to maximize fleet service life
  • Optimize life cycle management plan through integration of SLEP results
  • Data on immediate and short-term repairs to avoid extended unavailability
  • Assessment of the effects of service profile, in-service condition and current maintenance practice on vessel service life

WHAT IS OUR VESSEL SUSTAINMENT APPROACH?

Each vessel’s current condition is evaluated for strength, fatigue, system health and system readiness in support of future mission capability using ABS SLEP criteria and navy input. Risk ranking of deficiencies based on severity, criticality and probability of failure reveals the vessel’s current in-service condition and allows prioritization of repairs.

The ABS approach is comprised of four modules covering vessel hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E), systems, strength and fatigue each of which can be customized to suit the specific needs of a particular vessel or navy. 

A focused and prescriptive survey of the government vessel’s HM&E is evaluated in conjunction with recent hull gaugings to provide rapid recommendations on repairs. Survey findings are also used as input for fatigue, strength and system analyses.

An extensive vessel systems assessment based on more than 10 key indicators (e.g., ship survey reports, maintenance records, casualty reports, ships CONOPS and logbook recordings) provides a picture of health and readiness on the component and system level. The assessment also predicts the remaining life of system equipment based on the historical maintenance and operations profiles. 

Assessment of the vessel’s scantlings in its design condition, as well as its current corroded condition using vessel gauging reports and experienced sea loading. This provides guidance on areas that need repair or require enhanced monitoring at specified inspection intervals.

Assessment of the naval vessel’s true material age and estimate of the remaining fatigue life based on operational history and observed damage. Provides critical areas for inclusion in a vessel inspection plan. 

To learn more or to schedule SLEP services for your vessel, contact us at the link below.