Wallaby-class water and fuel lighter

The Wallaby-class water and fuel lighter is a class of four Australian-built lighters which have supported the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) since 1981.^[1] The vessels were originally operated by the RAN, but were transferred to DMS Maritime after 1997.

A Wallaby-class lighter in 2008
Class overview
Name	Wallaby-class water and fuel lighter
Builders	Williamstown Naval Dockyard
Operators	Royal Australian Navy DMS Maritime
Cost	$7,000,000
Built	1978-1984
In service	1981–2016
Completed	4
Retired	4
General characteristics
Type	Lighter
Displacement	210 tons, 1100 tons (loaded)
Length	38 m (124 ft 8 in)
Beam	9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Draft	3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 x G.E.C Harbourmaster Units
Armament	None

Wyulda, Princess Royal Harbour, port side bow end

Their main role is to transport diesel fuel and desalinated water and remove sullage and ballast waters for the RAN, although they can also be used to control oil spills.^[2]

The Wallaby-class craft are scheduled to be disposed of over the next few years, with replacement water fuel lighters proposed by DMS Maritime. Update All Vessels have now been removed from service and are awaiting scrapping. Dec 2018

Ships

Name	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Notes
Wallaby (8002)	Williamstown Dockyard	1978	1983	Based at Sydney - Removed 2016
Wombat (8003)	Williamstown Dockyard	1978	1983	Based at Sydney - Removed 2016
Wyulda (8004)	Williamstown Dockyard	1982	1984	Based at HMAS Stirling - Removed 2016
Warrigal (8001)	Williamstown Dockyard	1982	1984	Based at Darwin - Removed 2016

Citations

1. Wilson (1994), pp. 67-68.
2. Wertheim (2007), pp.31-32.

References

• Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2.
• Wilson, Michael (1994). Profile No. 4, Royal Australian Navy 21st century warships. Marrickville, New South Wales: Topmill. ISBN 0-646-22841-2.