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| Project Name: |
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Shiplift |
| Architect(s): |
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Rolls Royce Marine |
| Builder(s): |
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Rolls Royce Marine |
| Product(s) Used: |
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Hardwood - Blackbutt and Spotted Gum species |
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Work has recently been completed on the largest shiplift in
the southern hemisphere. The shiplift at Port Adelaide, was
commissioned by Defence SA after they won the Air Warfare
contract to build the Navy’s three $6billion Air Warfare Destroyers.
Weighing in at 2000 tonnes but capable of supporting and lifting
warships up to 9300 tonnes, it took a workforce of 200 to build the
structure. The 155.8m long and 34m wide lift sits at ground level and can lower to 18m below sea level to allow vessels to float on and off.
Rolls Royce Marine, contracted to design and install the shiplift,
awarded Boral Timber the contract to supply the 564 cubic metres
of timber needed for the enormous project.
Rolls Royce Australia’s Business Development Manager, Judd
Smitt, said his company was impressed with the capability of
South Australian supply chain companies. Blackbutt and Spotted
Gum were specified for the job because they met the required
specifications of modulus elasticity, shear parallel to grain,
compression perpendicular to grain and bending perpendicular
to grain. In other words, they had the correct level of hardness
and crushing strength.
The shiplift’s steel platform was installed by RPG Australia,
who supplied all the steel and hoists. A timber subframe sits
on steel joists and the timber is fixed to the subframe with
lag screws. The platform consists of 18 separate sections.
The shiplift is part of the South Australian Government’s
$400million commitment to infrastructure at Techport
Australia, to support the Navy’s Warfare Destroyer
Program and was commissioned in late February. |
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