New Offshore Patrol Vessels
The new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) OTAGO and WELLINGTON will deliver substantial new capability to the Royal New Zealand Navy
This capability will help New Zealand to police its Exclusive Economic Zone and the sub-Antarctic waters more effectively, and to undertake patrol operations with neighbours in the Pacific.
The two ships can go further offshore, stay at sea longer, and conduct more challenging operations than Inshore Patrol Vessels. They can conduct helicopter operations using a Seasprite SH2G helicopter, boarding operations using Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats, or Military Support Operations with embarked forces.
The OPV’s will take over some activities the frigates have been doing, such as patrols to sub-Antarctic waters. This will release the frigates to undertake their primary missions as part of the Naval Combat Force. Although not designed as ice-breakers, the OPVs have the range and capability to undertake patrols in places where ice may be encountered.
The ships are highly automated and operate with a core crew of 35, plus 10 flight crew to operate a helicopter. The ships’ power and control systems are fully computerised.
Multi-Agency Operations and Tasking
The OPVs will be available to support government agencies, including:
- New Zealand Customs Service
- Ministry of Fisheries
- New Zealand Police
- Maritime New Zealand
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Department of Conservation
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
- New Zealand Immigration Service
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
In a patrol/response capability, the OPVs will undertake the following tasks;
- Maritime counter-terrorism
- Surveillance and Reconnaissance
- Surface contact detection, identification, interception and boarding
- Helicopter operations including surveillance and reconnaissance, and surface contact detection, identification and interception, and support to boarding operations as well as general personnel and stores movement
- Apprehension and escort of vessels
- Pollution control
- Maritime Search And Rescue (SAR), including aid to vessels in distress (with an ability to tow of vessels of same or smaller size)
Secondary roles for the OPVs are:
- Supporting embarked military forces, e.g. transportation, insertion and extraction of military units and their associated equipment
- Disaster relief operations in NZ and beyond if required
- Defence aid to the civil community
- Medical Evacuation (Medivac)
- Military Hydrography
- Diving Operations Support
- Mine Countermeasures Support
- Collection of environmental data
- VIP Transport
- Defence Diplomacy and Representational activities in NZ and foreign ports
Vessel Description
| Length Overall |
85 metres |
| Beam |
14 metres |
| Draught |
3.6 metres |
| Displacement |
1,900 tonnes |
| Range |
6,000 nautical miles at economical speed |
| Main Machinery |
Two medium speed diesel engines |
| Speed |
Maximum 22 knots |
| Economical Speed |
12 knots |
| Complement |
- 45 Core Complement (including 10 flight crew)
- Accommodation for 34 additional personnel, including trainees, other
government agencies or embarked forces |
| Armament |
- Bushmaster 25mm gun
- 2 x 0.50 calibre machine guns
|
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Tony Parr and Ministry of Defence Project Director Gary Collier formally accepted the Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMNZS OTAGO, into the Royal New Zealand Navy at a ceremony in Melbourne in February. “OTAGO and her sister ship WELLINGTON will deliver the Navy substantial capability to undertake Exclusive Economic Zone patrols, surveillance and military operations around New Zealand, the southern ocean and the Pacific,” said RA Parr.