LONDON, July 1 (UPI) — British warships are to receive maintenance in Bahrain from Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard through a collaborative agreement with Babcock.

Babcock said its agreement with ASRY, part of its worldwide support contract with the Royal Navy, will cover work from general maintenance to specific projects such as the changing of diesel generators.

“We have contracted ASRY on numerous separate occasions to undertake work to RN warships in the past, and have developed a strong, supportive working relationship which this long-term agreement now secures and cements,” said Babcock Warships Managing Director Mike Whalley.

“The ability to deliver timely, high quality support in the Gulf region is an important part of Babcock’s role providing forward support to the Royal Navy anywhere in the world and, with the necessary facilities and local marine repair expertise in place, this long-term partnering arrangement with ASRY will further strengthen our ability to provide this support reliably, to the required high standards — something that will become increasingly important with longer deployment periods.”

Added ASRY Chief Executive Nils Kristian Berge: “This enabling agreement is another positive sign of ASRY’s acceleration of our defense sector marine repair program. Partnering with a global firm of Babcock’s scale and reputation will allow us to provide more efficient support to the Royal Navy, and is in line with the shipyard’s strategy to be the leading navy repair hub in the Arabian Gulf.”

The length of the agreement between the two companies was not disclosed, but Babcock termed it “long term.”