HMNZS Wellington ready to be launched
25 October 2007
The second of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new Offshore Patrol Vessels will be launched by Lady Sponsor, Dame Sian Elias, on Saturday 27 October, 2007.
The ship, to be commissioned into the Navy as HMNZS WELLINGTON, will be launched at the Tenix shipyard, Williamstown, Australia at 2 pm (Australian time) to correspond to the most appropriate tides.
WELLINGTON is one of two 85m long Offshore Patrol Vessels the Navy has acquired under Project Protector.
The other, OTAGO, was launched by Dame Silvia Cartwright in November 2006 and is expected to be commissioned for operational service in the first quarter of 2008.
“The OTAGO and WELLINGTON provide an enhanced capability to the Fleet that will enable the Navy to make a broader contribution to the Defence Force – and to the country. They will be very effective carrying out maritime security tasks in our own waters where we will work side by side with a range of government agencies - and in the South Pacific – an area in which the Navy has played only a limited role for a number of years”, said Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson.
WELLINGTON will now commence her fit out and is expected to be commissioned into operational service late 2008. Her homeport and regional affiliation is WELLINGTON.
ENDS
Media are invited to attend the launch of WELLINGTON.
For further information, requests for interviews and imagery please contact Lieutenant Commander Barbara Cassin, Navy Public Relations Manager +64 (0)21 244 0638.
http://www.navy.mil.nz/visit-the-fleet/project-protector/default.htm