The HMAS Adelaide (III) recently visited the Port of Cairns for an open public inspection and some crew R&R over the weekend. This 11-story, 1400-person vessel is a Canberra-class, Landing Helicopter Dock and one of the largest ships in the Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious assault fleet. At 230+m long, it is also one of the larger ships to visit the Port of Cairns.
PORT OF CAIRNS CAPACITY
The Port of Cairns is a deep-water port within Trinity Inlet, Far North Queensland.
Port of Cairns is one of the larger ports in Australia servicing maritime craft of all sizes. The area provides access to many maritime sustainment specialists including naval accredited shipyards like Tropical Reef Shipyard. The local industry can provide wet and dry dock facilities for a vast range of craft and regularly hosts visiting international large passenger and naval craft for regular maintenance.
Cairns is a vital port for Northern Queensland, supporting local, tourism craft servicing the Great Barrier Reef; neighbouring Pacific Island craft and visiting Naval vessel from around the world requiring maintenance support. It is also a key handler of cargo vessels for local communities. Port of Cairns is busiest and best known for its passenger and naval vessels traffic.
Apart from HMAS Adelaide last month, last week Carnival Splendour (Concordia-class cruise ship) also visited the city, a 290m vessel. These larger vessels berth at the Seaport or at HMAS Cairns.
Tropical Reef Shipyard offers a 110 m fully serviced deepwater wet fit out berth and a 135m dry length slip with 3000 ton lift capacity, providing customers all MRO&A services. The recent investment in a 135-ton crawler crane increases our efficiency and the capacity to dry dock up to 3000 tonne vessels. TRS is has the highest capacity across all of Northern Australia.
VISITING SHIP STATISTICS:
HMAS Adelaide
Displacement 27,500 tonnes (30,300 short tons; 27,100 long tons) at full load
Length 230.82 m (757.3 ft)
Beam 32.0 m (105.0 ft)
Draft 7.08 m (23.2 ft)
