The Australian navy's second new amphibious landing ship has started the voyage from Spain to Australia.
Assembled at the Navantia shipyard at Ferrol, Spain, the hull of the vessel set to become HMAS Adelaide is now aboard the Heavy Lift Ship Blue Marlin for the eight-week trip to Melbourne.
Superstructure and combat, communications and navigation systems will be installed at the BAE Systems shipyard at Williamstown.
The first vessel, to be named HMAS Canberra, is scheduled for commissioning into the Royal Australian Navy early next year. Adelaide will enter service in late 2015.
Defence Minister David Johnston said these landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships will be Australia's largest ever warships, providing the Defence Force with one of the most capable and sophisticated amphibious deployment capabilities in the world.
Each displaces 27,500 tonnes, around 10,000 tonnes more than the navy's last aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne.
