Friday 6 June, 2008
Navy Amphibious Sealift Ship, HMNZS CANTERBURY will depart the Devonport Naval Base at 10 am on Monday 9 June bound for a short but intense period of aviation, seamanship continuation training and core mariner skills in the South Pacific area.
Enroute, CANTERBURY will call in at Raoul Island to drop off food supplies and technical equipment.
Under the command of Commander Tony Millar, CANTERBURY and her core ships company of 57 personnel, will sail with an extra 74 training personnel; all who will be put through their paces along the way.
Conducting defence diplomacy visits, CANTERBURY will berth alongside in Apia, Western Samoa from 13 – 16 June and Nukualofa, Tonga from 20 – 23 June. These visits are expected to generate a lot of excitement with the locals as this is the first time CANTERBURY has called in to this part of the world.
Supporting the Defence Mutual Assistance Programme, CANTERBURY personnel will be training and embarking members of the Samoan Maritime Police and Tongan Defence Force for the short voyage from Apia to Nukualofa and will host official receptions for the NZ High Commissions’ in both ports.
The Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Tony Parr, says:
“This short deployment for CANTERBURY will provide a number of training opportunities for her ship's company and also an opportunity for the people of Tonga and Western Samoa to see the New Zealand Navy's newest ship for the first time."
HMNZS CANTERBURY is due back home to the Devonport Naval Base on 27 June.
ENDS
For further information and registrations of interest in attending the departure of HMNZS CANTERBURY please contact Lieutenant Commander Barbara Cassin, Navy Public Relations Manager, Mob: 021-2440638