Dockwise loads LHD in Spain for long voyage ‘down under’
Dockwise loads LHD in Spain for long voyage ‘down under’
August 22 – Further to our report from August 8, the hull of the first of the Royal Australian Navy’s new Canberra class amphibious Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships has been loaded on to the heavy lift ship, Blue Marlin for its voyage from Ferrol in northern Spain to Australia.
Operated by the Dockwise group, Blue Marlin is a semi-submersible heavy lift ship designed to transport very large semi-submersible drilling rigs above the transport ship's deck.
The Canberra class LHD vessels are 230.8 m long overall, with a maximum beam of 32 m and a maximum draught of 7.18 m. At full load they displace 27,851 tonnes, making the new LHDs the largest ships to ever serve in theAustralian Navy.
After a voyage that is expected to take seven weeks, Blue Marlin is due to arrive in Victoria during November, when the LHD will be fitted out by BAE Systems at the Melbourne Williamstown Shipyard before being accepted into service in 2014, followed by a sister ship the year after.
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