The 60-metre trailing suction hopper dredge, Tommy Norton, is back in Lakes Entrance after completing its five yearly survey requirements and programmed maintenance of the ships hull and below the waterline systems at Austal Brisbane shipyard.
Damen, the builder of Tommy Norton, has its Australian maintenance and servicing centre based in Brisbane, so Gippsland Ports' purpose-built dredge sailed to Queensland for six weeks, possibly to escape the bitter cold in Lakes Entrance.
"The timing of the drydock period has been planned for since Tommy Norton's arrival in 2017 and while the timing is largely driven by the survey requirements, this time of year is usually a relatively storm-free period that sees reduced accretion of sand onto the bar," Gippsland Ports executive manager maritime services, David Holding, said.
The voyage to Brisbane took six days with Tommy Norton leaving on May 23 and was in the drydock until June 27. It then made the return voyage, arriving back in Lakes Entrance in early July.
In addition to the many survey requirements and due to the high levels of wear caused by pumping sand the drydock work included the inspection and repair or replacement of many components within the hull and on deck. The topsides were also painted, the hull antifouled and anodes and cathodic protection system checked and replaced and motors and drive systems and dredging systems serviced.

IMAGE: Tommy Norton has just returned to the Gippsland Lakes after completing its five yearly survey requirements in Brisbane.