HMAS Tobruk has been docked in Sydney since May 11 while Defence undertakes scheduled maintenance to further assure the safety and reliability of the ship and to return it to 48 hours readiness notice.
During this maintenance process, survey work has been undertaken to ensure the ongoing serviceability of the ship’s equipment.
This survey work confirms that HMAS Tobruk is in a satisfactory material condition for a ship of its age.
However, the survey work has also identified that additional maintenance is necessary now to keep the ship in service.
This includes work on the hull, the vehicle ramps, the propeller shaft and the overboard discharge piping system for stormwater.
Completing this work will extend the time necessary for HMAS Tobruk to remain in dock and to return it to 48 hours readiness notice.
It is expected that this additional work will be completed by the end of August.
In order to ensure Australia has an amphibious capability while further work on HMAS Tobruk is undertaken, the Government has previously announced it would charter the long range support ship, Aurora Australis from P&O Maritime Services from May 8 to June 30 June 2011, with options for an extension up to a month.
To provide an amphibious transport capability until the end of July 2011, the Government has exercised the option to extend the lease of the Aurora Australis for an additional month until the end of July.
Defence has also agreed with the operator, P&O to further extend the Aurora Australis lease until the Tobruk re-enters service at the end of August.