The hull of the RAN’s second Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD02) has arrived in Melbourne from Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard in Spain.
Like the LHD01 (NUSHIP Canberra) before it, the hull of LHD02 – which will be named HMAS Adelaide in RAN service – was transported from Spain on the heavy lift ship MV Blue Marlin. The hull will be floated off the Blue Marlin and moved into BAE’s Williamstown shipyard next week where it will be fitted out with its island superstructure and internal spaces equipment.
“In the last few months, work has proceeded at a rapid pace in preparation for the hull’s arrival,” Director of Maritime for BAE Systems Australia, Bill Saltzer said in a statement. “Construction, consolidation and advance outfitting of the four sections of the superstructure has been undertaken at our Williamstown yard with fabrication of the mast modules undertaken at our Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.”
In the meantime, NUSHIP Canberra is expected to commence sea trials next month and will be accepted by the RAN towards the end of the year. The vessel has effectively been completed and has successfully conducted a number of vehicle load trials to validate the vessel’s vast storage and operational spaces.
