submarine design and development and have contributed to over 70 EU research projects. The US Navy’s high-speed “X-Craft” or “Sea Fighter” Catamaran is a BMT design, as is the Royal Navy’s future aircraft carrier. Beyond defence, BMT is part of the European Space Agency Development Team, working on earth observation for maritime markets, having been selected in February 2021 by the ESA to assess the feasibility of applying space-based data to support decommissioning of energy assets, including oil and gas platforms and wind farms. BMT has also helped to assess the damage caused by major maritime disasters, from the Piper Alpha platform and the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987, to the Sea Empress oil spillage and the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The company has also conducted airflow wind-tunnel testing of major landmarks and tall buildings, including Beijing’s Olympic Stadium, Hong Kong’s Stonecutter’s Bridge and Dubai's 21st Century Tower and Burj al-Arab Hotel. Upgrading HMAS Choules In early 2011, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) purchased the Largs Bay from the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary in order to help support its operations around the world. After extensive sea trials to confirm the condition of the vessel and a major refit to make her suitable for RAN services, she was commissioned as HMAS Choules in December 2011. As a 16,000-tonne amphibious Landing Ship Dock capable of carrying over 300 troops, 23 Abrams tanks, 150 light trucks, landing craft and capable of operating Navy helicopters, it expanded the RAN fleet’s formidable capability to get landing forces and equipment ashore. However, a number of the warship’s onboard systems were still retained in the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary configuration, so the Navy undertook a three-year project to carry out the necessary engineering changes that would bring the ship fully into line with Australian Navy requirements. Taking advantage of BMT's maritime defence and engineering expertise, the vessel’s in-service support contractor, A&P appointed them as in-house design support. This represented the first time that BMT had had such a close and involved relationship with an International Ship Security Certificate and it was a major escalation in their ability to undertake engineering services on an in-service vessel. BMT's in-house engineering team provided a wide range of essential engineering services and were embedded in the project in order to provide a quick response and easy access to the vessel and relevant Government Furnished Equipment (GFX). Creating the Nuyina The