The hull of the future HMAS Canberra LHD amphibious ship arrived in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay on October 17, completing a nine week, 13,000nm voyage from Spain.
LHD 01’s hull, built in Ferrol, Spain by Navantia, was transported to Australia by the heavylift ship the Blue Marlin, and will now be unloaded and moved by tugs to BAE Systems’ Williamstown dockyard for mating with its Australian-built superstructure and fitout with mission systems and other equipment.
HMAS Canberra is due to enter service in 2014, followed by LHD 02 HMAS Adelaide in 2016, and will be the largest ships ever to serve with the RAN.
