Navy’s new ship quite a sensation
A flotilla of yachts and runabouts was on the water to welcome the Royal New Zealand Navy’s $500 million new tanker Aotearoa to the city of sails yesterday.
The ship entered the Waitemata¯ Harbour about 10am, ending a two week journey from South Korea, and berthed at the Devonport Naval Base. The Air Force joined the party, with two C-130 Hercules thundering past and a P-3 Orion swooping in.
Hamilton RSA president Jan Luttrell, who used to serve in the Navy, drove from Hamilton to see the ship arrive.
“I have seen a ship come in before but this one’s kind of special, and not only that, she’s brand new.”
Luttrell says coming from Hamilton was worth it.
“It’s a good opportunity . . . [this is] something I’ll never see again.” Aotearoa, built to replace the Endeavour, can carry up to 9500 tonnes of fuel and can refuel a number of vessels. At 173m, the ship is longer than the 169m HMNZS Achilles light cruiser which served with the RNZN during World War II or the 118m HMNZS Te Kaha frigate currently in service.
Minister of Defence Ron Mark said that the tanker would extend the existing fleet’s range and endurance during operations that span from Antarctica to the Equator and beyond that.
“Aotearoa has been designed to support both combat and civilian operations and to deliver humanitarian relief and support for disaster recovery,” he said.
“This vessel enhances our national resilience as well as our ability to support our friends and neighbours throughout the Pacific and beyond.”