Overhauling the engine on the Kingswood might cost a couple of thousand dollars at most - doing it on the RAN's HMAS Success is a little more pricey.

The Navy's auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship is presently high and dry in the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney.

She's undergoing a $24 million dollar refit, contracted to ADI Ltd.

Some of the jobs to be done are overhauls to the main engines, overhaul of the cargo system and replacement of the galley.

A hole has already been cut in her side to allow large components to be removed and replaced.

Her anchor chains are on trailers at dockside and her huge oil transfer hoses are nowhere to be seen. And a small army of ADI Ltd workmen swarm over her.

The refit is expected to be completed on December 14 allowing her to go to sea in readiness for deployment in 2002.

But with every job, there is a need to complete the paperwork.

In a small ceremony on board on September 5 the refit contract documents were formally signed.

ADI Lt was represented by its senior executive Jean George Malcor and John Templeman while the RAN was represented CDRE Trevor Ruting (CSC) and CMDR Scott Muller.