- Author
- A.N. Other and NHSA Webmaster
- Subjects
- Ship design and development
- Tags
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Stirling (Shore establishment), HMAS Seal, HMAS Porpoise, HMAS Shark
- Publication
- March 1994 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
August 16, 1993 saw two new large diving launches constructed by Geraldton Boat Builders of Geraldton, arrive at HMAS STIRLING for handover to the Royal Australian Navy in company with a third, SHARK (2004), which had already arrived at Fleet Base West.
Part of a $2.8 million contract, the two vessels, SEAL (2001) and PORPOISE (2002) were officially handed over to the Navy in an informal ceremony by Mr Terry BROMLEY, the Managing Director of Geraldton Boat Builders.
Built to a simple but robust construction, these 21.7 tonne aluminium hulled launches have an overall length of 19.95 metres and are capable of 28 knots. They will routinely carry 16 divers and attendants plus two tonnes of diving equipment.
Apart from SHARK which has been allocated to Clearance Diving Team Four at HMAS STIRLING, SEAL will operate with Clearance Diving Team One and PORPOISE with Clearance Diving Team Two, both in Sydney.
The contract for the three vessels was placed in October, 1992 and is the second Defence contract to be awarded to Geraldton Boat Builders.
In a joint venture with Perth-based Dawson Engineering, four landing craft were constructed in a $2.1 million contract between 1991-93. The prototype landing craft was delivered to the heavy landing ship HMAS TOBRUK where it saw service in Somalia, meeting all contract expectations.
