Port falls short on loading capability
Berth dearth for navy ship
A UNIQUE fender system is needed for the navy’s amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra at Townsville after it was found the $ 1.5 billion vessel can only load and unload from its side ramps at high tide.
More than $ 85 million was spent upgrading berth 10 into a multi- user wharf in 2012 for cruise and military ships as well as general cargoes, including live cattle.
Defence injected $ 30 million into the upgrade to dock the amphibious assault ships in the city and provide the navy with berth rights.
A source said there were “red faces” among navy and civilian engineers when the Canberra ( pictured) docked in Townsville for the first time last month with side ramps only able to be lowered at high tide.
“It appears the wharf is too high,” the source said.
But the Department of Defence and the Port of Townsville denied the issue was a major problem.
“The limitations of the Townsville berth 10A are well understood and were factored into the initial planning associated with the introduction of Canberra,” a Defence spokesman said in a statement.
The spokesman said berth 10 was designed for “slabsided” ships and that a unique feeder system was needed to hold the Canberra about 7m off the wharf so its side ramps could be lowered.
“As a commercial wharf, it is required to berth vessels of many different configurations and is not a sole- use Defence facility,” he said.
“To mitigate the tidal impact of loading/ off- loading in Townsville, navy is currently in negotiations with the Townsville Port Authority and industry to design and fabricate a unique fendering system that will hold the ship approximately seven metres off the wharf.
“This will allow the side door ramps to be used for the majority of the tidal range.
“Navy expects to test a prototype solution in the coming months during future ship visits before committing to a final solution.”
Port chairman Pat Brady understood some adjustments were needed but said they were “quite minor in nature”.
“The first visit identified we needed wider fenders,” Mr Brady said.
“Who supplies them is something we are working on.
“It’s quite a minor cost.”