By
LEUT Aaron Matzkows
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NUSHIP
Ballarat
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“She’s
fantastic!
“She’s very empty but she’s fantastic!”
That’s the view of NUSHIP Ballarat’s Supply Officer, LEUT Andy
Barnes, as he began stocking up his ship one working day after
the eighth Anzac Class Guided Missile Frigate was delivered to
the Royal Australian Navy.
LEUT Barnes said the next few weeks would be taken up storing
the ship with equipment and tools, filling the fridges and freezers
and taking on dry stores.
“It’s great to be back on board a ship and settling into a routine
after four or five long months in a crew shelter,” he said.
“That’s just like working in an office.”
“Ballarat’s exciting … and even more so for some of the ship’s
company because it’s their first sea posting.”
The ship’s company was looking forward to her work-up in August,
he said.
Tenix Managing Director Mr Paul Salteri officially handed over
the vessel to the Director General, Major Surface Ships, CDRE
Keith Malpress and CO CMDR David
Hunter at Tenix’s Williamstown shipyard in Melbourne on April
30.
Mr Salteri said the ship had received the thumbs up from the Navy
and had exceeded expectations in her sea trials.
“The Ballarat features state-of-the-art weaponry and a range of
enhancements unique to Australian vessels,” Mr Salteri said.
“Developing the Anzac ships’ technology, electronics and defence
systems has been fundamental to ensuring Australia’s defence capabilities
are maintained in line with international standards.
“The Ballarat is a flexible, capable, general purpose and cost-effective
warship that has drawn on the skills and expertise of hundreds
of local suppliers, sub-contractors and Tenix employees.
“With the 10th and final vessel [Perth] to be delivered in 2006,
we all hope that the world class capability of the Williamstown
shipyard, built up over the life of the Anzac Ship Project, is
taken advantage of with further naval shipbuilding work,” he said.
Ballarat’s first captain, CMDR Hunter, said the Commonwealth had
just taken delivery of one of the best ships Tenix had produced.
“The ship’s company has been involved in a rigorous training program
in preparation for the delivery.
“It is now incumbent on all of us in the ship’s company to develop
the skills and teamwork to maximise the potential that has been
delivered.” he said.
CMDR Hunter said his ship’s company had been liaising with the
Ballarat community and had taken part in a number of activities
in the area, with more planned.
Ballarat was laid on August 4, 2000, and she was launched on May
25, Ballarat is the second RAN ship to bear the name.
