28 July 2011

News Story: (Aus) Navy's new $100 million ship labelled 'HMAS Lemon Scented'

By Ian McPhedran

THE navy's newest $100 million amphibious ship has been tagged "HMAS Lemon Scented" after a major inspection earlier this year uncovered a raft of serious technical faults in the second-hand British vessel.

The problems include overheating of the propulsion motors and transformers and faulty air handling units that "could cause respiratory problems among passengers and crew - in particular legionnaires disease", the chief engineer officer's report says.

Overheating means that the ship cannot maintain full speed and the lack of natural ventilation means she can't operate at higher speeds "especially in higher sea temperature conditions".

The ship, RFA Largs Bay, was designed to operate in cooler climates and many of the faults identified in the report are deep-seated "design issues".

Read More at Herald Sun

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Australian minister backs Navy purchase

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has denied the navy's newest purchase is a waste of money.

The government bought the landing ship, called the Largs Bay, from the British Royal Fleet Auxilliary earlier this year to fill gaps in the navy's capacity.