New chapter for Whangarei ship building industry

Whangarei's proud shipbuilding history opens a new chapter today when work starts on a $500 million naval contract at the city's Tenix yard.

The first steel will be cut at the shipyard for one of four 55m, 340-tonne, inshore patrol ships.

Australian company Tenix Defence has re-opened its Whangarei plant to build new boats for the New Zealand Navy.

Tenix won the Government's Project Protector tender to build seven naval vessels, with much of the work to be done at its Whangarei yard.

The contract is for one 130m, 8870-tonne multi-role vessel, two 85m, 1600-tonne offshore patrol vessels and four inshore ships.

Tenix will build all the inshore patrol vessels and some of the modules for the offshore patrol vessels in Whangarei, adding up to an estimated $110 million to the economy over the next three years.

Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson said the inshore patrol vessels would be well employed in the waters around New Zealand's coastlines -- waters which were as demanding as anywhere in the world.

"Increased capability means the four inshore patrol vessels and the two offshore patrol vessels will be much more visible to New Zealanders than our present ships, as they will be able to make many more port visits and will fill our national and regional responsibilities very effectively," Air Marshal Ferguson said.

Meanwhile, some of the employment and economic benefits of the Project Protector contract are already starting to show in Northland, with Whangarei firm McKay Electrical winning a multi-million dollar contract to supply electrical distribution systems for the offshore patrol vessels.

McKay general manager Lindsay Faithfull said the contract had been won against international competition and the company would have to take on some new staff.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)