Posted on 06/06/2014 5:44:12 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
A CIVILIAN contract crew made two serious errors during sea trials for the navy’s biggest ever ship, damaging its hull and melting down electrical systems.
The first of two $1.5 billion 27,000-tonne Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs), to be known as HMAS Canberra, suffered excessive vibration in May during her first “shakedown cruise” between Melbourne and Sydney.
The fault was traced to the brand-new vessel’s two German-built Siemens propulsion pods — or azimuth thrusters — which were out of alignment.
Each thruster, fitted at the stern of the ship, has two propellers mounted on large electric powered pods that can be rotated to any angle, eliminating the need for a rudder. And just like the wheels of a car, poor pod alignment causes vibration.
A crew from Teekay Shipping Corporation was hired by prime contractor BAE Systems and was apparently unaware that the pods must be operated in tandem above eight knots.
They ran them independently in low-speed mode at high speed, causing serious vibration throughout the ship.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
1. It appears to me that it will have a lot of windage.
2. It should be easy to see on the radar because of its slab sides.
No problem as it will remain tied up in port for a while to fix these problems.
seems to me this what sea trails are about to find problems.
Just an old grunt here, but that thing really looks awkward. How much oh her is below the water level?
...suffered excessive vibration in May during her first “shakedown cruise”
yep...
The SS Broadside.
I been on a cruise ship when this happens, the ship really shakes. Impossible to overlook.
Oops.
That one serious ugly ship. Bet she want be sturdy in high wind or seas
I was never in the navy but I think they are to find problems, not make them.
Seems like the people hired to build the ship should know how to operate it without damaging it.
It likely has a well deck like our LPDs. That would account for the “slab sides”.
Are these the same ships that Australia wants to modify to be able to handle the F-35?
“...but vibration caused paint to be stripped from the ship’s hull...”
Wow. That’s some serious shaking. I’m betting some teeth fillings fell out.
Sure does look kind of top-heavy... just saying.
Looks like she will be easy to see on radar.
I like the Aussies but that is one ugly looking ship.
Already has the ski jump. Last I checked you don’t need a ski jump for helicopters. But it would work fine with the F-35B.
Low Bid = low workmanship
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