The ship was built by Tenix as part of the New Zealand government’s Royal New Zealand Navy plans,[2] and was originally expected to enter service during the winter of 2008. However, in late 2008, it became known that the vessel was considered “non-compliant”, and did not fulfill a number of specifications, such as being 100 tonnes over its design weight, resulting in revisions to its operating conditions during Antarctic duties. The future crew that was already stationed with the vessel was sent back to New Zealand after the ship returned to Melbourne, until the dispute with the contractor was resolved.[4]
Wellington was accepted into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 6 May 2010 and arrived at the Devonport (Auckland) Naval Base the following month. The ship was also involved in the search for the crewmembers of the 47-foot (14 m) yacht Berserk in 2012, but had to turn back due to the weather which the captain called the worst storm he had ever seen in 19 years. During that mission the ship lost three 50-person life rafts of which one was discovered by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel MY Steve Irwin.
On 14 January 2015 Wellington intercepted three fishing vessels, SonghuaKunlun and YongDing, which were allegedly fishing illegally in Antarctic waters. The fishing vessels refused to be boarded and poor weather and sea conditions prevented Wellington from forcing the issue.[5][6]
Both HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Wellington have recently gone through minor upgrades, including sensors and weapons, and replacing the 25 mm Bushmaster with the Rafael Typhoon 25 mm stabilised naval gun
Navy Off Shore Patrol Vessel (OSPV) HMNZS Otago departing from Devonport Naval Base, Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, July 09. Credit:NZPA / Mike MillettGrey welcome . . . the HMNZS Otago steams up the lower harbour on Thursday morning.A Seasprite helicopter lands on HMNZS Otago
The development of the OPV design based on an Irish Naval Service OPV class was very contentious, with the RNZN arguing for the need for a limited combat suite for effective training and patrol work with a 57 mm–76 mm light frigate gun and associated fire control, radar and electronic warfare systems at least compatible with current 2nd light RN OPVs. The government and Cabinet preference was to use the space and extra finance available to incorporate ice strengthening and provision of extra coastal patrol vessels. The RNZN view was that adding ice strengthening was unnecessary for Southern Ocean patrols, distinct from operations in the Ross Sea, and the extra weight and complexity would stress and shorten the life of the hulls from 25 to 15 years.[5] She was launched in 2006 but suffered from problems during construction and was not commissioned until 2010, two years later than planned. Soon after commissioning Otago encountered problems with both her engines which delayed her arrival at her home port of Port Chalmers. She has served on several lengthy patrols of the Antarctic, though she lacks the capability to operate in heavier levels of ice-coverage which has led to the cancellation of at least one planned operation.
Name
The ship is named in honour of the New Zealand province of Otago, associated with the city of Dunedin. The previous HMNZS Otago (F111), was a Rothesay-classfrigate that served in the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1960 until 1983.[2]
Otago suffered delays in delivery. In late 2008, it became known that the vessel was not considered to meet all contract specifications, and exceeded her design displacement. The initial crew stationed in Melbourne to commission the vessel returned to New Zealand while the build was completed. On 18 February 2010, the ship was accepted into the RNZN after the builders claimed that being slightly overweight would not stop her from patrolling in Antarctic waters.[6] In mid March 2010, the vessel developed problems in both engines during sea trials, and had to limp back into port in Australia, instead of arriving in Auckland as originally planned.[7] HMNZS Otago eventually arrived in Auckland in April 2010, nearly two years after the original target date.[8]
HMNZS Otago made her first visit to her home port of Port Chalmers on 22 July 2010. On her maiden voyage Otago encountered trouble when sea water contaminated her bunker fuel. She suffered further technical difficulties in December 2010 during a visit to Campbell Island with her engineers having to make temporary repairs to both engines prior to an early return to Devonport Naval Base for repairs. Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand and cabinet minister Kate Wilkinson who were on board at the time were transferred to HMNZS Wellington to continue their tour.[9]
Lieutenant-Commander Robert McCaw assumed command of the vessel on 12 September 2012.[10] Since then she has served on lengthy patrols of the Antarctic, though a planned mission to monitor fisheries in the Southern Ocean had to be cancelled because the vessel lacked the capability to operate in that level of ice cover.[11] Her duties have included fisheries protection, conservation and transportation of scientific staff. The scientists carried by Otago discovered 90 new species of seaweed on a single Sub-Antarctic island. The vessel has also conducted two search and rescue operations.[10]
Both Otago and Wellington have recently gone through minor upgrades, including sensors and weapons, and replacing the 25 mm Bushmaster with the Rafael Typhoon 25 mm stabilised naval gun.[15] Full compatibility trials with the updated Seasprite SH2G1(l)s, ex RAN were conducted in 2016 and the much more capable helicopters are now deployed from Otago[16] and Wellington with enhanced lift, surveillance and standoff Penguin missiles, offering a beyond horizon deterrent.
Wakakura was attached to the Wellington division of the Naval Volunteer Reserve from her commissioning until 2005, when she returned to the fleet base in Auckland.
RNZNVR Wakakura
Wakakura, in company with Kiwi, carried out farewell manoeuvres on 29 November 2007, flying a paying-off pennant, in Waitemata Harbour prior to decommissioning on 11 December 2007.[1]
Wakakura was the second ship of this name to serve in the New Zealand Navy. The first ship was the training minesweeper HMNZS Wakakura (T00) (1926–1947). Wakakura is a Māori word which could mean “precious canoe” or could mean “training boat”.
After decommissioning the Wakakura was put up for sale by tender.[2] The vessel was acquired by the owner of Helipro, Rick Lucas, under the Lucas Family Trust.
With the receivership of Helipro in 2014, the vessel was sold in February 2015 to Jason and Clayton Knowles and moved from Queens Wharf Wellington to the Marlborough Sounds.[3] As of 2020 HMNZS Wakakura (P3555) remains tied to a jetty in Kaipapa Bay in the Marlborough Sounds at 41°13’36.5″S 174°04’37.2″E. In July, 2022, the ship was purchased by Maria Kuster and Sean Liam Ellis who own and operate Pure Salt; a charter company who operate the sister ship “Flightless”. M.V. Flightless is based in the coastal waters of Fiordland and Stewart Island. It is understood Wakakura will operate as a charter vessel for Pure Salt.
Moa was the second ship of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and was named after the Moa bird from New Zealand.
After she was decommissioned in January 2007, she was sold on in March to a Picton builder who renamed the vessel Flightless. On Friday 20 June 2008 the vessel, moored at anchor on the eastern side of Waikawa Bay, Picton, was struck by a commercial fishing boat, with the loss of two lives aboard the fishing boat.[1] After an extensive refit Flightless is now owned by Pure Salt Ltd and operates as an expedition vessel, providing adventure charters in Fiordland & Stewart Island.
HMNZS Kiwi (P3554) was a Moa-class inshore patrol vessel
HIt was commissioned in 1983 for the Naval Volunteer Reserve. Kiwi had been attached to the Christchurch division of the Naval Volunteer Reserve from her commissioning until relocating to Auckland in 2006.
Kiwi, in company with Wakakura, carried out farewell manoeuvres on 29 November 2007, flying a paying-off pennant, in Waitemata Harbour prior to decommissioning on 11 December 2007.[1]
Kiwi was the second ship of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after the national bird of New Zealand.
HMNZS Kiwi (P3554) was a Moa-class inshore patrol vessel
