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Royal New Zealand Navy News

08 Feb 2022

US' Sole Heavy Icebreaker Arrives in Antarctica

(Photo: Diolanda Caballero / U.S. Coast Guard)

The 157 crewmembers of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) arrived at McMurdo Station in Antarctica Monday following an 86-day transit from the United States and the cutter’s departure from its Seattle homeport Nov. 13.This deployment marks the Polar Star’s 25th journey to Antarctica supporting Operation Deep Freeze, an annual joint military service mission to resupply the United States Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation, lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program.Each year…

10 Jun 2020

New Zealand's Largest Ever Naval Vessel Delivered in S. Korea

New Zealand Navy's largest ever ship Aotearoa, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, is on its way to New Zealand, after Hyundai held a departure ceremony in its shipyard in South Korea on Wednesday.Ordered in 2016, the $493 million Aotearoa is an Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) vessel that will be used to support Royal New Zealand Navy’s combat operations, humanitarian relief functions, and operational and training support.The vessel is built according to the Rolls-Royce Environship concept design, with a wave-piercing bow which reduces resistance and lowers fuel burn.

19 May 2020

HHI Delivers Philippine Navy Frigate

The Philippine Navy’s newest frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (Photo: HHI)

The latest Philippine Navy frigate built by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), BRP Jose Rizal, departed for the Philippines carrying masks and other quarantine supplies.The 2,600-ton frigate, with maximum speed of 25 knots, features the Philippine Navy’s first operation of guided missiles and torpedoes.The new ship set sail to Subic port in the Philippines following a sail-off ceremony held by HHI on Monday. The builder said the delivery comes four months ahead of the…

29 Apr 2019

RNZN Tanker Aotearoa Hits the Water

The Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) first purpose-built ship in 10 years, the HMNZS Aotearoa,  was launched at Hyundai Heavy Industries’s Ulsan shipyard in South Korea.The HMNZS Aotearoa auxiliary ship was constructed at the Hyundai Heavy Industries dry dock under a USD327 million contract. In 2020, it will replace the Navy’s latest replenishment oiler, the HMNZS Endeavour, which was decommissioned in 2017.“Seeing a ship of this size and capability on the water nearing full completion is a really exciting time for our Navy,” said Rear Admiral Proctor.“Aotearoa will provide us with a world-class maritime sustainment capability. She is a ship that will carry our nation’s name with pride to all corners of the world as we advance New Zealand’s interests from the sea…

06 Feb 2019

Seaspan Partners with Lockheed Martin

Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) has awarded Ottawa-based Lockheed Martin Canada (Lockheed Martin), a contract for work on Canada’s new Joint Support Ships (JSS).At $118M, this is the largest contract package that Seaspan will award for work on the JSS, said a press release.Lockheed Martin is one of several major systems integrators that Seaspan is working with in order to meet its commitments under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).Seaspan and Lockheed Martin have an established relationship as partners on several programs for the Royal Canadian Navy and, more recently, the Royal New Zealand Navy, in maintaining and upgrading vital military assets.Lockheed Martin will provide a state of the art Command Management System based around the CMS 330 for the JSS.

04 Nov 2018

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Visits New Zealand

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson visited New Zealand, Nov. 2 and 3, to meet with New Zealand naval leadership to discuss deepening the U.S.-New Zealand naval partnership and recognize New Zealand’s role as a leader in regional security. During the visit, Richardson met with his counterpart, Rear Adm. John Martin, Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) to discuss opportunities to increase interoperability through more combined operations and personnel exchanges.“We are two very like nations,” said Richardson. “We share the same values. We are two maritime nations. Our navies operate together, and we’re two nations that are dedicated to a free and open Indo-Pacific region that allows for the prosperity of everybody.”Richardson presented a U.S.

22 Aug 2018

New Zealand Navy Buys OSV from Østensjø Rederi

Edda Fonn (Photo: Østensjø Rederi)

Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi said it has signed a contract to sell the light construction vessel Edda Fonn to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).The purchase price, including modifications and other services, is reportedly $103 million.The 84.7-meter vessel will be outfitted with dive-, ROV- and hydrographic system by Østensjø Rederi early next year, before being delivered to the RNZN in Auckland in May 2019. The modifications are as per RNZN specification and will be carried out in close cooperation with the purchaser.

27 Apr 2018

Seaspan Shipyards Celebrates Handover of HMNZS Te Kaha

Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards (VSL) celebrated the handover of Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) Te Kaha at a ceremony in Victoria, BC. The handover ceremony marks the transfer of care of HMNZS Te Kaha from the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) to Lockheed Martin Canada (NYSE:LMT) and VSL. Today’s event follows last month’s formal announcement that VSL had been awarded work on the Frigate Systems Upgrade for the RNZN’s ANZAC class frigates as a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin Canada. “Being awarded this project demonstrates Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards’ capabilities as a leader in ship repair in North America,” said Brian Carter, President & CEO of Seaspan Shipyards.

07 Mar 2018

Lockheed Martin Canada Welcomes New Zealand's ANZAC Frigate

Lockheed Martin Canada has signed a formal contract with the New Zealand government for ship installation and trials to complete the upgrade and modernization of the ANZAC class frigates. The first of two frigates, Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) TE KAHA arrived in Victoria yesterday. Lockheed Martin Canada is responsible for designing and supplying the upgraded combat system for each ANZAC Class Frigate, including a new combat management system – based on Lockheed Martin Canada's Combat Management System 330 – along with the supply and integration of various sensors, a missile system and a Combat Systems Trainer. Lockheed Martin Canada has entered into a subcontractual agreement with Seaspan Victoria Shipyards Co.

12 Dec 2017

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Returns to Washington

Washington-based ships assigned to Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 returned Dec. 10, just in time for the upcoming holidays following a six-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and the Arabian Gulf. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), with embarked CSG-11, returned home to Naval Base Kitsap, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Shoup (DDG 86) and USS Kidd (DDG 100) returned to Naval Station Everett. The strike group consists of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Princeton (CG 59) and USS Lake Erie (CG 70). The air wing and DESRON command staff disembarked in San Diego Dec.

23 Sep 2017

Australian Navy Commissions Hobart (II) – One in a Million

Royal Australian Navy will commission the first of three new destroyers today (On 23 September). In continuing our reflective stories of previous ships that have carried the name HMAS Hobart, this is the story of Hobart (II). The second ship to bear the name Hobart was one of three Perth class guided missile destroyers built in the United States for the Royal Australian Navy. She was commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard on 18 December 1965 under the command of Captain Guy Griffiths. Following sea trials and exercises in the United States and Canadian waters, Hobart arrived in her namesake city on 1 September 1966. She berthed in her home-port of Sydney for the first time on 7 September 1966.

20 Jul 2017

Australia Conducts Amphibious Task Group Drill

Australia’s amphibious capability was put to the test recently as the Amphibious Task Group Headquarters took charge of the largest amphibious assault conducted by an Australian force for 70 years as part of Exercise TALISMAN SABER. The assault, led from amphibious sssault ship HMAS Canberra, was a significant milestone in the Australian Defence Force’s development of a high end amphibious warfare capability. The Australian and New Zealand Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of HMA Ships Canberra and Choules and the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Canterbury, landed 600 embarked personnel, predominantly consisting of the Australian Army's 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, as part of a flanking force for the US Marine Corps’ 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

27 Apr 2017

Case Study: CAD/CAM for Naval Refit

Image: SSI

The ANZAC Class is a ship class of 10 frigates: eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). They have an overall length of 118 meters and a displacement of around 3,800 tons. In 2014, New Zealand ordered extensive modernizations to its frigates’ core combat and related systems. This would require the integration of the Lockheed Martin CMS 330, integrated with radar improvements, MBDA’s independently-guided Sea Ceptor missiles and an extensive array of other modern equipment.

25 Apr 2017

Maritime Security a Year-Round Duty

While many Australians spend Anzac Day off work, Royal Australian Navy personnel around the world will remain on watch, contributing to global security, stability and prosperity. On operations in countries as far from home as Afghanistan and South Sudan, in regions such as the Middle East and in waters offAustralia’s northern borders. Their work is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but they will take some time off on 25 April to honour the sacrifices made by past and present service men and women. HMAS Ballarat is on a three-month deployment to South East Asia and will take part in a dawn service at Kranji War Memorial inSingapore with New Zealand service personnel.

23 Mar 2017

Multinational Task for Australian Mine Warfare Team

Fifty navy divers and mine warfare specialists from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Britain converged on Bland Bay, New Zealand for Exercise FULCRUM recently. The contingent had to locate and dispose of 16 dummy mines of varying shape, size and weight, set throughout the bay. Australian and British autonomous underwater vehicle teams used remote environmental monitoring units to scan the bay floor and identify mine-like objects. The US and New Zealand then sent out divers to confirm whether or not they were mines, said Lieutenant Teina Hullena of the Royal New Zealand Navy Clearance Diving Group. "They would then either 'blow them up' or raise them to the surface for intelligence gathering," Lieutenant Hullena said.

04 Mar 2017

Seaspan Makes Leadership Moves

Steve Roth, President of Seaspan Ferries Corporation (SFC) (Photo: Seaspan)

Steve Roth has been promoted to President of Seaspan Ferries Corporation (SFC). In this position, Steve will continue to have the primary accountability for the overall performance of the SFC business unit, including management of day-to-day operations of SFC, as well as the short and long-term strategic planning processes, including setting and fulfilling revenue and profitability targets and maintaining relationships with all stakeholders. He is also responsible for ensuring that customer service expectations are met or exceeded while ensuring the safe operation of SFC’s vessels…

10 Feb 2017

International Navy Friendships Strengthened in Crisis

The Royal Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Navies took part in anti-submarine warfare exercises off the east coast of New Zealand late last year. Exercise NGA TAHI sought to strengthen relations and refine common operating procedures between the participating nations. Australian submarine HMAS Dechaineux exercised for three days with Anzac frigates, HMNZ Ships Te Kaha and Te Mana, HMCS Vancouver and a P-3K2 Orion from the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Scenarios escalated from basic tracking exercises to whole-of-force protection of a high value unit. Dechaineux Sonar Officer, Lieutenant Nathan Whitelaw, said the exercise allowed Australian sailors to hone their skills during high end warfare scenarios.

23 Nov 2016

HMAS Darwin Completes Earthquake Relief

HMAS Darwin has completed her mission in earthquake ravaged Kaikoura, New Zealand. In the space of 36 hours, Darwin evacuated more than 60 civilians by sea boat to local ship, HMNZS Canterbury, and delivered approximately 13,500 kilograms of food, water and emergency supplies by helicopter. Commanding Officer Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry said working in a humanitarian and disaster relief effort as part of an international naval task group was breath-taking. “Our teams have made a real difference on the ground restoring essential services and encouraging the community,” he said. Darwin's embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter performed the bulk of the load lifting.

25 Jul 2016

Hyundai Bags NZ Defence Order

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s largest shipbuilder, has won an order to build a 23,000 ton class logistics support vessel for New Zealand Defence Force’s Maritime Sustainment Capability (MSC) project. HHI was selected as a preferred bidder in December 2015. HHI will deliver the logistics support vessel to New Zealand by the end of 2019. Under the MSC project, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) plans to replace its replenishment tanker HMNZS Endeavour to maintain replenishment capability for the New Zealand Defence Force. HMNZS Endeavor, which has served RNZN for the past 30 years and is still in good condition, was also delivered by HHI in 1987.

04 Oct 2016

New Zealand Navy Orders Polar-class Support Tanker

Image: Rolls-Royce

A new polar-class logistic support tanker for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) will be the first naval vessel to feature the Rolls-Royce Environship design with wave piercing bow. The new vessel, which will replace the 30-year-old HMNZS Endeavor, will be significantly larger than its predecessor. The 23,000-metric-ton tanker will carry out operations in extreme Antarctic conditions and is strengthened and winterized to Polar code 6 requirements. Used under license, the Rolls…

08 Nov 2016

NOSKE-KAESER Awarded Major Order from Australian Navy

ANZAC HMAS (Photo: Noske-Kaeser / Wikimedia Commons)

By 2021, eight frigates from the Royal Australian Navy will be equipped with innovative NOSKE-KAESER technologies. Founded about a year ago, NOSKE-KAESER Marine Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of NOSKE-KAESER GmbH, the maritime technology company with operations worldwide, has secured an order to modernize the air-conditioning and cooling systems on eight frigates belonging to the Royal Australian Navy. NOSKE-KAESER will be carrying out a comprehensive overhaul of the air-conditioning…

18 Nov 2016

Australian Navy Frigate on Task in Kaikoura

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin has sailed to Kaikoura to provide humanitarian and disaster relief support at the request of the New Zealand government. Darwin is using her embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter for the evacuation of civilians and the distribution of emergency supplies. Commanding Officer, HMAS Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry said the ship and its 200 personnel will remain flexible to any tasks that may be required. “We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to help our close friends and neighbours in their time of need,” he said. Darwin, together with warships from the United States, Canada, Japan and Singapore, was scheduled to participate in the country's International Naval Review, in celebration of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th Anniversary.

18 Nov 2016

Australian and Canadian Ships Tested

HMAS Darwin used a trans-Tasman voyage to brush up on her boarding drills with friends from Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver. The boarding practise took place during passage to Auckland for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th Anniversary International Naval Review, before both ships were retasked to assist the New Zealand with the response to the recent earthquake. Darwin’s Boarding Officer, Lieutenant James Hodgkinson said the exercise was an excellent opportunity for both teams to put their skills to the test in an unfamiliar environment. “The Canadian team wanted to board a different vessel, to have foreign compartments to search and unfamiliar personnel to encounter,” he said.