The second Canberra class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, NUSHIP Adelaide, is due to dock at the Williamstown shipyard in Melbourne following initial sea trials and the first docking at Garden Island in Sydney.
BAE Systems Australia stated that the trials were conducted between June 17 and 26 during the voyage to Sydney, and then during the journey back. Sea trials are designed to test ship systems to ensure that all perform to their capability in a range of scenarios, the company said. This first set of trials focused mainly on platform systems, while the next set will focus primarily on the combat and communications systems.
“During sea trials, we essentially test the ship and all its systems in the at-sea environment in which it will be expected to operate in the service of the Royal Australian Navy,” said Bill Saltzer, director of Maritime on Juy 10. “It is also the first opportunity for the new officers and crew to be engaged in onboard operations, following the extensive training program that they undergo at our state-of-the-art training facility in Mascot, NSW. NUSHIP Adelaide performed exceptionally well in the first phase of sea trials; the ship is well ahead of where [the first LHD] HMAS Canberra was at the same time in her production schedule, demonstrating again the benefits that come from continuous production.”
The second LHD is expected to remain at Williamstown for some final outfitting and integration activities in preparation for the second set of sea trials, which are planned for August. NUSHIP Adelaide is anticipated to be delivered in the third quarter of this year.