LOTE breathes new life into Brunei

HMAS Brunei (LCDR Jeff Williams) returned to Cairns Harbour after two days of rigorous sea trials recently as part of the Life of Type Extension (LOTE) program Tenix Defence is managing on behalf of the Commonwealth.

HMAS Brunei, the last of six Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels to be refitted and refurbished in Cairns, is to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in September.

The sea trials put to the test six months of structural and plant repairs and modifications managed by Tenix Defence and carried out by local suppliers and subcontractors at Tropical Reef Shipyard in Cairns.

Project Manager of the LCH LOTE Dave McCormack said that the trials have ensured the landing craft’s machinery and systems are in order before being handed back to the RAN for military and defence operations as required by the Maritime Commander.

“Tenix staff carried out beach landings and sea exercises to ensure the landing craft’s new equipment and systems are completely operational in line with the Navy’s requirements,” Mr McCormack said.

The refit program has seen HMAS Brunei, which was originally built during the early 1970s, completely stripped before undergoing intense refurbishment. The vessel has had a new air conditioning system, hydraulic system, and engine installed as part of the LOTE program.

 

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