HMAS Paluma (A 01)
History | |
---|---|
Australia | |
Namesake | Paluma, Queensland |
Builder | Eglo Engineering, Adelaide[1] |
Laid down | 21 February 1988[1] |
Launched | 6 February 1989[1] |
Commissioned | 27 February 1989[1] |
Motto | "Search with diligence" |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 315 tonnes[1] |
Length | 36.6 metres[1] |
Beam | 13.7 metres[1] |
Draught | 2.2 metres[1] |
Propulsion | 2 Detroit V12 diesel engines[1] |
Speed | 12 knots[1] |
Range | 3500 nautical miles[1] |
Complement | 18[1] |
Sensors and processing systems | 2 x echo sounders, 2 x side-scan sonar, searchlight sonar[1] |
The fourth HMAS Paluma (A 01) is the lead ship of the Paluma class survey motor launches in the Royal Australian Navy. She is a twin hulled hydrographic survey ship designed to operate in the shallow territorial waters of Northern Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.[1] Laid down 21 February 1988, launched on 6 February 1989 and commissioned on 27 February 1989, the ship was named for Paluma, Queensland.
Survey equipment
Paluma employs Wide Area GPS Enhancement and Differential GPS to maintain precise positioning.[1] The two catamaran hulls are each equipped with both echo sounders and side-scan sonar to ensure accuracy when scanning the sea floor.[1] Both hulls also have heave compensators to provide corrected depth information.[1] Additionally the ship's Officer of the Watch has a Skipper searchlight sonar to provide early warning on shallows and unexpected dangers.[1]
See also
- HMAS Paluma for other ships of the same name