Back onto the blue as HMNZS Taupo begins three-month ‘Bravos’

For the trainees, it’s the moment when months of theory and simulator training come together, as HMNZS Taupo departs Auckland Harbour and passes Alpha Buoy into the Hauraki Gulf.

This week Taupo set sail in company with HMNZS Canterbury which was embarking for a Commanding Officer ‘Sea Week’ under its new CO, Commander Wayne Andrew.

While on board Taupo, the Junior Officers will be conducting  the sea phase of their Officer of the Watch Basic course (OOW(B)) or ‘Bravos’. The ship will be at sea for the next 50 days, with alternating cohorts of trainees undergoing 16 days at sea.

A benefit of sailing in company with Canterbury is that the trainees are exposed to Officer of the Watch manoeuvres, where they take turns to manoeuvre Taupo to different positions around Canterbury at close quarters, in a set time, increasing and decreasing speed and angle.

An understanding of these manoeuvres and the physics associated with them is particularly useful later in their careers when they will have to drive larger warships at high speed in close proximity to other ships.

Throughout their time on board, the students will consolidate their training in coastal navigation, pilotage of harbours and passes, involving precision navigation in the vicinity of hazards.

At all times, the trainees must be ready at a moment’s notice to respond to an emergency – an engineering alarm, or a shout of ‘man overboard’ if someone throws ‘Oscar’ – a mannequin – over the side.

Taupo’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Toby Mara, says the Officer of the Watch carries significant responsibility, entrusted with the safety of the vessel and its crew.

“Moving from the Bridge Simulator to a real ship can be a bit of a shock,” he says.

“Suddenly you can feel the engines vibrating, the wind and rain outside, and the natural movement of the ship. It takes a minute to get used to, all the while they’re trying to implement the lessons they’ve been learning over the past few months at the Navigation School. It can be an oversaturation of the senses at times which results in a big learning curve.”

The time away will include port visits – with the associated pilotage and berthing learnings – to Opua, Whangarei, Wellington and Nelson.

The time with the trainees and Taupo’s own Commanding Officer Sea Week in December will conclude a busy year for Taupo, with nearly 100 days at sea.

Taupo’s tasks have included being the Duty Search and Rescue Ship at several points throughout the year, conducting Sea Training for Naval Activities, Boarding Operations in support of Ministry for Primary Industries, and now the OOW(B) Course.