Tim Fish
BMT is supplying its Ellida logistics ship design for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)’s SEA 2200 Joint Support Ship program.
A spokesman for BMT told AMR At the Indo-Pacific 2022 exhibition in Sydney, the company is bidding for the project, and its Ellida series of ships is a cost-effective solution for logistical support and amphibious operations.
Under the SEA 2200 program, the Royal Navy wants to procure two 16,500-ton joint support ships for $300-400 million, which have ro-ro/ro-ro capabilities, can transport cargo and conduct maritime replenishment operations, and must be equipped with a Nice deck.
BMT launched the Ellida range of ship designs in 2019 and utilised reconfigurable space to optimise its role to serve different functions. These include amphibious landings using well decks, strategic transport of bulk military supplies, medical support up to level 2 or 3, solid supplies for sea or ground forces, and the ability to conduct humanitarian and disaster relief missions, the spokesman said. Evacuation of non-combatants.
For logistical support, the larger Ellida 200 is designed with two helicopter bays on the aft flight deck for vertical resupply operations via the air. The vessel has port and starboard delivery stations for replenishment at sea (RAS). It also has an enclosed vehicle deck, space for military vehicles up to 700 meters, and access to the ship via side doors and ramps.
The lower storage area provides an additional 176m of space for light vehicles, cargo or fuel, with 24 containers or 200m lane vehicle storage on the open deck. The well deck can accommodate two landing craft the same size as its Kaimen 90 Quick Landing Craft (LCU), and the davits can support the launch and recovery of small craft and fast craft.
BMT developed the design based on its experience in supplying Aegir designs to the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Royal Norwegian Navy.
