The pretences are dropping away, we all know the HMAS Canberra is going to be Australia’s first aircraft carrier since the early 1980s and now the Master Mariners have jaw dropping pictures of the huge beast being lugged from its shipyard in Spain back to Melbourne sitting on top of the MV Blue Marlin.
Last Saturday, 4 August 2012, the BLUE MARLIN – the largest semisubmersible heavy-transport vessel (HTV) to date, commenced the loading operation of the Navantia manufactured hull, measuring 230 meters in length, for the amphibious ALHD flagship CANBERRA to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy.
Transporting colossal cargo onboard the BLUE MARLIN is business as usual. With the ALHD CANBERRA, however, a complex technicalUntitled challenge surfaced: the aircraft carrier will protrude 55 meters at the aft of the Blue Marlin. Dockwise marine engineers have been working closely with the Navantia team to develop a new grillage and sea-fastening design to safeguard the hull against forces that may be encountered.
Dockwise was awarded to transport two ALHD hulls from Punta Langosteira, Spain to Melbourne,
If you’re wondering why Fiji is getting serious about returning to democracy I suggest that’s 40,000 tonnes of power projection capacity you’re looking at there focussing some minds in the military junta.