ROTOITI at sea in Whangarei on Monday 20 November 2007
22 November 2007
The first of four Inshore Patrol Vessels, ROTOITI, built under Project Protector by Tenix Shipbuilding (NZ), sailed from Whangarei on Tuesday for the first day of contractor sea trials.
This marks another significant step in the introduction into the Navy of seven new ships under Project Protector. The first ship, the Multi-role Vessel, HMNZS CANTERBURY, was commissioned into the Navy in June 2007 and both Offshore Patrol Vessels have been launched in Williamstown; OTAGO in November last year and WELLINGTON in October this year.
By the end of 2008, the Navy’s Protector Fleet will comprise of seven ships of three different classes; one Multi Role Vessel (MRV), two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) and four Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV).
ROTOITI, affiliated to the Napier region, is expected to be delivered to the Navy in early 2008.
The Inshore Patrol Vessels will be used to conduct maritime surveillance in support of other agencies such as Customs and Fisheries. They will be able to patrol the New Zealand coastline from the shore to approximately 24 nautical miles. ROTOITI (P3569) will be under the command of Lieutenant Alistair McHaffie (Devonport) Executive Officer (second in charge) is Napier man, Sub Lieutenant Fraser Toulmin.
Ends
Statistics
Displacement: 340 tonnes
Length overall: 55 metres
Beam: 9 metres
Speed: 25 knots
Range: 3,000 nautical miles
Core ship's company: 20
Government agencies: 4
Additional personnel: 12
Total: 3