Nuyina landing barges
Video transcript
TEXT BOX: Two barges for the icebreaker Nuyina are being built in Tasmania to support Antarctic resupply.
ROB BRYSON (Manager – Antarctic Modernisation Branch): These barges are the primary link between the ship and the shore. We don’t have wharves or jetties in Antarctica, the ship doesn’t come alongside anywhere, so we have to use the barges to transfer all our cargo ashore and all our breakbulk containers and all our equipment.
TEXT BOX: Each barge can carry 45 tonne loads of containers, vehicles and other cargo.
ROB BRYSON: The great feature of these barges is their ability to ride up on the beach and discharge their cargo straight on to the shore, so that’s a tremendous capability that we’re building alongside the Nuyina and bringing into service.
TEXT BOX: The barges are being built by Taylor Bros, who have been crafting vessels for 83 years.
TEXT BOX: They employ naval architects, designers, and specialists from eight trades.
PHIL TAYLOR (Director – Taylor Bros): One of the first job I ever did for the Antarctic Division was in 1980 when we converted the first landing barges they had. They had four outboards strapped across the back of the barge and they were virtually a square brick. They were pretty uncontrollable so we turned them into a jet powered barge.
TEXT BOX: The jet propulsion system provides greater manoeuvrability than propellers
ROB BRYSON: The barges directly complement Nuyina because they’re made for each other. So from the ground up, the design’s been complementary. Seeing this design finally come to fruition is fantastic and a great achievement for all involved in the process today.
PHIL TAYLOR: We’ve had a lot of experience with Antarctica projects and we’ve learnt a lot out of working in a cold climate. Yeah there’s always challenges and that’s good, that’s what we like here, doing something different.
