The two aluminium landing barges will carry up to 45 tonnes of cargo from ship to shore at Australia’s Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations.
The testing involved open water trials to demonstrate a range of requirements relating to speed, propulsion and manoeuvring capability. They were also tested for their ability to carry large trucks ashore as part of a ‘roll-on roll-off’ capability, where vehicles can drive on or off the barge over a ramp.
The barges were built by historic Hobart marine engineering company Taylor Bros (Australian Antarctic Magazine 36: 6–7, 2019).
Nisha Harris