Coastal Shipping, Landing Craft, Workboats and Yokohama Fenders from Darwin

Depth Logistics operates a landing craft (often called a landing barge or ramp barge), Modifier, and a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), Maeve, from our Depth Defence Logistics Centre (2DLC) in Darwin. Modifier is capable of operating in remote areas with little or no berth infrastructure, carrying up to 213 tonnes of cargo, including heavy vehicles, over a ramp with a safe working load of 80 tonnes. Both vessels are available for charter and can be deployed anywhere in Australia, and we hire out Yokohama pneumatic fenders Australia-wide. Depth Logistics has established itself in the landing barge and coastal shipping market in Darwin, and we have built a strong reputation for our Absolute Reliability serving defence and government supply chains and tasks, while also acting for civilian clients.

We also run our USV, UUV and AUV marine base from the Darwin 2DLC.

Our Darwin marine facility

Darwin 2DLC, at 31 Muramats Rd, East Arm NT 0822, has a landing craft pocket for littoral transport operations and is home to our landing craft and other vessels. The basin has an LCT and RoRo ramp 53 m wide, so it can handle simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) of multiple vessels, with a large cargo laydown area connecting to the ramp. It is the largest landing craft facility and barge pocket of its type in northern Australia, with northern Australia’s largest barge ramp. We offer berth hire for barges and workboats, berth hire for shore crane operations and ship’s potable water supply. Our vessels work together with our road transport fleet to offer a complete door-to-door solution anywhere in Australia.

Our fleet

Modifier – landing craft (LCT) and barge charter in Darwin

Modifier is a modern landing craft (LCT), built in 2020, that works mainly in the remote northern regions of Australia and is also available for domestic tasks across the country. With her bow ramp she works as a beach landing vessel and roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) barge, moving vehicles and cargo as a cargo barge or supply barge to sites without a wharf. Also known as: landing barge, ramp barge, bow-ramp barge, cargo barge, supply barge or workboat. A versatile and capable littoral shipping vessel, she is a young, modern, reliable and capable landing craft that supports defence and government logistics operations as well as commercial shipping along the Australian coast.

Key specifications

• Cargo capacity: 213 tonnes in total
• Carries containers, palletised cargo and heavy vehicles; ramp safe working load 80 tonnes
• Top speed: 11.5 knots, fast compared to most other landing craft
• Latest marine navigation and communication equipment
• Australian ensign, with a fully qualified and experienced crew
• ITAR compliant

Capabilities

Modifier’s shallow draft and robust design let her reach remote coastal areas and provide essential transport to hard-to-reach locations. Tasks range from supporting military exercises and disaster relief to moving commercial goods along the Australian coast. She can be teamed with our Kalmar RT240 rough terrain container handler to load and discharge cargo on beaches.

Maeve – RHIB

Maeve is a Zodiac RIBO 450 rigid hull inflatable boat for personnel and light cargo transfers. She is a SOLAS rescue boat with a self-righting system.

Key specifications

• 4.5 m RHIB
• 30 hp four-stroke Suzuki outboard
• Top speed of 15 knots in smooth conditions
• Carries 5 passengers plus 1 crew member
• Carrying capacity 893 kg
• Fitted with all safety equipment

Capabilities

Maeve is compact, light, highly manoeuvrable and trailerable, so she can be deployed wherever she is needed. Because she is inflatable, she can approach with minimal impact, which makes her ideal for transfers to seaplanes, submarines and other fragile equipment. She can be craned onto a larger vessel’s deck using her factory lifting points and lifting strop, making her an ideal tender boat to larger vessels. With her modern 30 hp Suzuki outboard, she is very reliable and capable, and supports tasks such as military exercises and flood relief, and we can mobilise her 24/7 at short notice.

Yokohama fender hire

We hire out pneumatic Yokohama fenders and deliver them Australia-wide on our own truck fleet, including to Brisbane and Townsville.

• Pneumatic Yokohama fenders with tyre chain and net
• Sling-type pneumatic rubber fenders
• Sizes from 1 m (diameter) x 3 m up to 2.5 m x 5.5 m
• High energy absorption with a low reaction force, adjustable by changing the internal air pressure
• Short or long-term hire

Gangways are also available for hire from Darwin.

Frequently asked questions