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| HMAS Canberra, sister ship of the future HMAS Adelaide |
NUSHIP Adelaide will dock at BAE Systems Williamstown shipyard tomorrow following successful initial sea trials and first docking at the RAN base at Garden Island in Sydney.
The sea trials were conducted from 17 to 26 June on the voyage to Sydney and then during the voyage back following the successful docking.
Sea trials are designed to test the ship’s systems to ensure that all perform to their capability in a range of scenarios. This first set of trials focused mainly on platform systems, while the next set of trials will focus mainly on combat and communication systems.
NUSHIP Adelaide will remain at Williamstown for some final outfitting and integration activities in preparation for the second set of sea trials which is planned for mid-late August.
BAE Systems Director of Maritime, Bill Saltzer said: “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. It is also the first opportunity for the new officers and crew to be engaged in on-board 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 HMAS Canberra was at the same time in her production schedule, demonstrating again the benefits that come from continuous production.”