HMNZS OTAGO prepares to come home
8 April 2010
The newest ship in the Royal New Zealand Naval Fleet, Offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS OTAGO, will arrive home to the Devonport Naval Base on Friday 9 April - berthing at 2pm.
Onboard HMNZS OTAGO will be the Minister of Defence, Dr Wayne Mapp, and the Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Ross Smith. Media will be able to ask questions of the Minister of Defence, Maritime Component Commander and the Commanding Officer once the ship has berthed.
Media are invited to attend the homecoming on base at 2pm. Names are to be forwarded by 11am Friday 9 April and media will have access at 1.15pm. Photo ID is required to enter the base.
A homecoming ceremony is planned on the Naval Base with HMNZS OTAGO being accompanied into harbour by In Shore Patrol Vessels HMNZS HAWEA and TAUPO.
At the wharf HMNZS OTAGO will be greeted by Navy personnel, the Navy Band and friends and families of the crew. The Navy haka will be performed to welcome HMNZS OTAGO as she berths.
HMNZS OTAGO and WELLINGTON, which is due in Auckland at a later date, will work with government agencies such as the Ministry of Fisheries, Police, Maritime New Zealand and the Department of Conservation around the New Zealand coast, in the Pacific and Southern Ocean. The primary tasks of the new ships include;
- Maritime counter-terrorism.
- Surveillance and Reconnaissance.
- Surface contact detection, identification, interception and boarding.
- Apprehension and escort of vessels and
Maritime Search And Rescue (SAR),
ENDS
To register interest or for further information please contact Lieutenant Sarah Campbell, Media Adviser Navy on 021 244 0638.
Specifications:
Displacement 1900 tonnes
Length 85 metres
Beam 14 metres
Speed 22 knots
Range 6000 nautical miles
Propulsion 2x MAN Burmeister & Wain 12RK280 diesels producing 5400 kW
Core Complement 35
Flight personnel 10
Multi Agency Complement 4
Additional personnel 30
Total Complement 79
Boat Capacity 2 x 7.3 m Zodiac RHIBs deployable by 2 x Powered Davits