GEAR | Cairns shipyard completes AU$10 million expansion to support RAN vessel maintenance

Tropical Reef Shipyard (TRS) has completed a AU$10 million (US$7.29 million) expansion and improvement programme that would enable its facilities to haul-out a wider range of vessels.

TRS said its facilities in Cairns can now lift vessels that displace up to 3,000 tonnes while its drydocking capability has been upgraded to be able to accommodate vessels of 135 metres LOA.

The expanded capability means the yard is now able to fully maintain and service the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) as well as the Guardian-class patrol boats being built for the defence and police forces of some of Australia’s Pacific island partner nations.

TRS added that its facilities will further be improved to support Plan Galileo, the long-term initiative wherein the RAN and local industry partners will collaborate more closely on the development and introduction of new fleet vessels.