HMNZS Aotearoa, the navy s huge new supply ship, arrives home for first time
21 Apr, 2021 07:44 AM
5 minutes to read
HMNZS Aotearoa arrives in New Plymouth. Photo / New Zealand Defence Force
RNZ
By Robin Martin of RNZ
The Royal New Zealand Navy s newest and largest-ever ship HMNZS Aotearoa has made its first visit to its ceremonial home port in New Plymouth today.
The $450 million supply ship came into service last year and at 173m long it can carry 10.5 million litres of fuel - or enough to top up a frigate almost 14 times.
It steamed into Port Taranaki this morning.
Advertisement
The trip out to Aotearoa did not have an auspicious beginning with Able Seaman Leon Cooper issuing a rather chilling safety briefing to the crew of journalists heading out to HMNZS Aotearoa on a rigid-hulled inflatable (RHIB).
HMNZS Aotearoa has made its first visit to its ceremonial home port in New Plymouth today.
HMNZS Aotearoa arrives in New Plymouth.
Photo: New Zealand Defence Force
The $450 million supply ship came into service last year and at 173m long it can carry 10.5 million litres of fuel - or enough to top up a frigate almost 14 times.
It steamed into Port Taranaki this morning.
The trip out to Aotearoa did not have an auspicious beginning with Able Seaman Leon Cooper issuing a rather chilling safety briefing to a the crew of journalists heading out to
HMNZS Aotearoa on a ridged hulled inflatable (RHIB).
The festivities will follow a formal welcome to the city, firstly from Ngati te Whiti, before Mayor Neil Holdom addresses the ship’s company and presents Aotearoa’s Commanding Officer Captain Simon Rooke with the City Charter. “It’s been four years since we heard the fantastic news that HMNZS Aotearoa would have a Taranaki base following our long and successful association with her predecessor HMNZS Endeavour and HMNZS Taranaki before that,” Holdom said in a statement.
JASON DORDAY/STUFF The ship’s company will be given permission to parade through New Plymouth.
Key timings for Friday s Charter Parade for
Napier Art Deco festival cancelled, yet the show went on stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.