LHD 01 Australia bound

The hull of the first Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), the largest ship ever to be built for the Royal Australian Navy, has left Spain bound for Australia.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said that depending on weather conditions the trip is expected to take approximately seven weeks.

Each ship will carry a combined arms battle group of more than 1100 personnel, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 helicopters and features a 40-bed hospital.

When completed it will be more than 230 metres long, 27.5 metres high and weigh around 27,500 tonnes.

"In the last few months, works have proceeded at a rapid pace as we prepare for the arrival of the first hull and the team here in Australia take over construction of the ship," Director of Maritime for BAE Systems Australia, Bill Saltzer said.

"Construction and consolidation of the four sections of the superstructure is continuing in the Williamstown yard and this includes the mast modules fabricated at the BAE Systems yard at Henderson in Western Australia,” Saltzer added.

"Preparation works have also included a multi-million upgrade to Nelson Pier where the ship will be docked. These works have involved the construction of a 12.8 metre diameter cement mooring dolphin situated 35 metres north of Nelson Pier," he said.

Saltzer said the mooring dolphin was required as the ship was so large that it would extend beyond the pier and the structure was required to secure the ship.

The vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the RAN in early 2014.