HHI Delivers Royal New Zealand Navy’s Largest Ever Vessel – HMNZS Aotearoa.

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN)’s largest-ever vessel built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) departed for its maiden voyage home. HHI announced on June 10 2020, that it held a sail-off ceremony for the 26,000-ton logistics support vessel, HMNZS Aotearoa.
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HMNZS Aotearoa (Picture source: HHI)

Aotearoa, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new Maritime Sustainment Vessel, departed South Korea on 10 June on her 16-day journey to New Zealand.

The vessel, measuring 173.2m in length and 24.5m in width will support operations for RNZN through supplying fuel, food, water and ammunition.

HMNZS Aotearoa is the longest ship ever to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy. (Picture source:  New Zealand Defence Force)

The contract to build the $493 million Aotearoa was awarded to South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries – the same company that built her predecessor, Endeavour. On 29 January 2018 the steel was first cut for her construction and, now, 2.5 years later she will sail into Auckland Harbour on Friday 26 June at 1000.

New Plymouth will be the Home Port of Aotearoa which continues the long-standing relationship the Navy have had with the wider Taranaki area. Her Excellency Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor General of New Zealand, is the Ship Sponsor. The formal Commissioning ceremony for Aotearoa is anticipated to be late next month.

Hyundai Heavy Industries, the shipyard that built HMNZS Aotearoa, captured this image off the coast of Ulsan, South Korea during the new supply ship's sea trials. (Picture source: New Zealand Defence Force)

About the AOTEAROA Sustainment Vessel:

AOTEAROA is a purpose-built, technologically enhanced asset that will add real value to the Royal New ZealandNavy’s combat operations, humanitarian relief functions and operational and training support. She will provide global sustainment to New Zealand and coalition maritime, land and air units, and United Nations security operations through resupply of ship and aviation fuel, dry goods, water, spare parts and ammunition.

Her many capabilities include the ability to carry up to 22 x twenty-foot shipping containers, high capacity freshwater generation plants (enough to produce 100 tonnes per day), self-defence systems, aviation and marine fuel cargo tanks, dual all-electric replenishment at sea rigs, an SH-2G(NZ)Seasprite or NH90 medium utility helicopter, integrated communications and bridge systems, an integrated platform management system and winterisation features such as some upper deck trace heating and an ice-strengthened hull and underwater fittings. Aotearoa will utilise a world-first naval “Environship” ledge bow design.

This design incorporates a new wave-piercingbow which reduces resistance and lowers fuel burn, while its Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel propulsion plant has lower fuel emissions than older vessels. Her SelectiveCatalytic Reducers will reduce harmful NOx exhaust emissions, and she has been built to adhere to Polar Codesafety regulations and is ice-strengthened to Polar Class level 6 for Southern Ocean monitoring and Antarcticoperations including the resupply of McMurdo Station and Scott Base

HMNZS Aotearoa (Picture source: New Zealand Defence Force)

HMNZS Aotearoa Facts:

• Class: Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR)
• Shipbuilder: Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea
• Propulsion System: Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel (CODLAD) provided by 2 x Bergen B33:45L9P diesels supplemented by 2 x electric power take in motors. 2 x flap rudders and 2 x controllable pitch propellers
• Power generation 4 x 2.6MW MTU 20V4000M53B, 1 x 410kw STX KTA19DMGE emergency generator
• Length: 173.2 metres
• Beam: 24.5 metres
• Draught: 8.4 metres
• Displacement: (full) 26000 tonnes
• Range: 6750 nautical miles
• Design speed: 16 knots
• Total liquid cargo capacity: 9500 tonnes
• Dry goods cargo capacity 22 x twenty-foot equivalent units
• Core Crew: 64
• Bunks: 100 (including 2 in the sickbay and a VIP cabin)