HMNZS Wellington (P55)

HMNZS Wellington (P55) is a Protector-class offshore patrol vessel in the Royal New Zealand Navy.

For other ships with the same name, see HMNZS Wellington and HMS Wellington.

HMNZS Wellington first arrival into Devonport Naval Base, June 2010
History
New Zealand
NameWellington
Ordered29 July 2004
BuilderTenix[1]
Acquired6 May 2010
HomeportWellington[2]
Identification
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class and typeProtector-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement1,900 tonnes[3]
Length85 m (278 ft 10 in)[1]
Beam14 m (45 ft 11 in)[1]
Draught3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Propulsion2 × MAN B&W 12RK280 diesel engines, each with a continuous rating of 5,400 kW (7,200 hp) at 1,000 rpm
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)[1]
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi)[1]
Boats & landing
craft carried
  • 2 × RHIB (7.74 m) or
  • 1 × special forces RHIB (11 m)
Capacity
  • 30 passengers[1]
  • 1 × sea container
  • 1 × 15 tonne crane aft
Complement35 + 10 flight personnel + 4 personnel from Government agencies[1]
Sensors and
processing systems		Optical fire control
Armament
  • 1 × remote controlled Rafael Typhoon 25 mm stabilised naval gun
  • 2 × M2HB .50 calibre machine guns
Aircraft carried1 × SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopter

History

The ship was built by Tenix as part of the New Zealand government's Royal New Zealand Navy plans,[1] and was originally expected to enter service during the winter of 2008. However, in late 2008, it became known that the vessel was considered "non-compliant", and did not fulfill a number of specifications, such as being 100 tonnes over its design weight, resulting in revisions to its operating conditions during Antarctic duties. The future crew that was already stationed with the vessel was sent back to New Zealand after the ship returned to Melbourne, until the dispute with the contractor was resolved.[4]

Wellington was accepted into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 6 May 2010 and arrived at the Devonport (Auckland) Naval Base the following month. The ship was also involved in the search for the crewmembers of the 47-foot (14 m) yacht Berserk in 2012, but had to turn back due to the weather which the captain called the worst storm he had ever seen in 19 years. During that mission the ship lost three 50-person life rafts of which one was discovered by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel MY Steve Irwin.

On 14 January 2015 Wellington intercepted three fishing vessels, Songhua Kunlun and YongDing, which were allegedly fishing illegally in Antarctic waters. The fishing vessels refused to be boarded and poor weather and sea conditions prevented Wellington from forcing the issue.[5][6]

Wellington was involved in seabed surveys off Kaikōura after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.

The ship is named in honour of HMNZS Wellington (F69), a Leander-class frigate serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1982 until 1999.[2]

On 19 July 2021 HMNZS Wellington delivered 120 vials of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Tokelau's Nukunonu atoll, which is sufficient to vaccinate 720 people.[7]

In response to the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami, Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa were deployed to provide water supplies, survey teams, and helicopter support.[8]

Upgrades

Both HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Wellington have recently gone through minor upgrades, including sensors and weapons, and replacing the 25 mm Bushmaster with the Rafael Typhoon 25 mm stabilised naval gun.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Project Protector: Protecting New Zealand's interests at sea and across the region" (Press release). Royal New Zealand Navy. 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
  2. "Navy names seven new ships" (Press release). Royal New Zealand Navy. 31 March 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
  3. Wellington - P55 RNZN website. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  4. Gower, Patrick (11 December 2008). "Navy ships project hard to keep afloat". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  5. Davison, Isaac (14 January 2015). "NZ Navy in standoff with fishing vessels". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  6. Field, Michael; Vance, Andrea (16 January 2015). "Toothfish poachers fly false flags". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  7. Pasilio, Elena (20 July 2021). "Pfizer vaccine roll-out begins in Covid-free Tokelau". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  8. "Tonga tsunami: Before and after eruption". BBC News. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  9. Ridzwan, Rahmat. "New Zealand's OPVs complete Typhoon gun acceptance trials". IHS Janes 360. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
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