Giant customer for GI dock

The 98,000 tonne Endeavour River is inched into the Captain Cook Dock at Garden Island. INSET: Her hull and prop exposed for work to begin. Photos by ABPH Yuri Ramsey.

By Graham Davis

The 58-year-old Captain Cook Dock at Garden Island is vital for the repair and maintenance of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet as well as the many ships which ply Australia’s waterways.

The dock is now operated by ADI Ltd and on Wednesday April 23 it set a milestone.

It accepted its biggest ship ever.

With just over two metres to spare each side, the 255 metre long, 98,000 tonne bauxite carrier Endeavour River was inched into the dock.

Helping were a number of Adsteam tugs and a team of ADI dockworkers who, with stout ropes and capstans finally secured the giant ship.

Over the next hours she discharged her ballast and the 270 million litre contents of the dock was pumped clear allowing the ship to settle on the pads laid out carefully on the dock floor.

Built in 1983, she is steam driven. Her usual “beat” is to transfer bauxite from Weipa to the smelter at Gladstone.

ADI dockmaster Brad Lovegrove supervised the docking.

He said the purpose of the visit was for Endeavour River to undergo survey so she could continue to operate.

“We also have to replace a 780mm shaft seal,” he said.

The vessel also had to have her hull cleaned. This involved teams of 26 dockworkers, operating eight hour and 14 hour shifts.

Eight “cherry pickers” were used along with two scissor hoists and 12 hydroblast guns.

ADI is proud of gaining the very “big” contract. A spokesman said it was the first time the 20-year-old ship had used an Australian dock.

All previous work had been done overseas.

“ADI believes this first visit of the Endeavour River reflects the company’s price competitiveness and engineering capabilities,” the spokesman said.

The previous biggest visitor to the dock was another bulk carrier, the Arthur Phillip in 1981.

The dock’s first customer was the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in March 1945, shortly before the end of WW II.

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