Going further
At 173m LOA and displacing 26,000 tonnes, the new HMNZS tanker and replenishment ship is the largest our Navy has ever operated.
She arrived in Auckland in June – a Polar-class support vessel designed, says Defence Minister Ron Mark, to extend the fleet’s range and endurance during operations that span from Antarctica to the equator and beyond. “This vessel enhances our national resilience as well as our ability to support our friends and neighbours throughout the Pacific.”
Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, Aotearoa will support both combat and civilian operations and deliver humanitarian relief and support for disaster recovery. She replaces the Endeavour fleet tanker (decommissioned in December 2017 after 30 years of service).
The new ship can carry up to 22 containers of supplies and produce 100 tonnes of fresh water each day – invaluable when providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Her state-of-theart design and capability features include ice-strengthening and ‘winterisation’ features for operations in Antarctica.
She carries 9,500 tonnes of fuel (enough to ‘fill up’ frigates like Te Mana or Te Kaha almost 14 times). And she can carry and operate a Navy Seasprite or RNZAF NH90 helicopter. She will have a core crew of 64, and 11 flight crew.
Her world-first naval ‘Environship’ design incorporates a wave-piercing bow which reduces resistance and lowers fuel burn, while the Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel propulsion plant has lower fuel emissions than older vessels. Her Selective Catalytic Reducers also reduce harmful NOX exhaust emissions.
Her fuel-carrying capability of 9,500 tonnes allows her to refuel multiple vessels.
The ship was greeted by a flotilla of vessels when she arrived in Auckland.