A computer-generated visualisation of the light landing craft that has been selected for use on the Pacific support vessel ADV Reliant . (TWPG)
Australia is set to receive two new light landing craft, which will be deployed onboard the country's Pacific support vessel ADV Reliant.
The vessels will be supplied under a contract signed between the Australian government and Sydney-based The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG), the company disclosed in a media statement on 25 July.
Reliant is a former offshore support vessel that has been acquired for Australia's regional disaster relief support requirements. The vessel is equipped with an offshore crane, a moon pool, and a working deck with more than 1,000 m² of space.
It was commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in September 2022.
The new landing craft that has been acquired to operate from Reliant has an overall length of 15.4 m and is powered by triple 300 hp diesel outboard motors.
This provides the vessel, referred to by TWPG as the landing craft light (LCL), with better seakeeping capabilities and a faster fully loaded speed of 26 kt when compared with the legacy landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) that are often deployed on Reliant.
The LCL can carry 4.5 tonnes of cargo, including a light vehicle, containerised stores, or up to 30 personnel. It is equipped with a bi-fold bow ramp, allowing for the transfer of cargo and people across a variety of shoreline terrain and beach conditions, said TWPG.
The LCL design is from TWPG's ‘Pioneer' family of multi-purpose utility craft and will be built at the company's yard in Yamba on the north coast of New South Wales.
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