As has become tradition now there will be a strong naval presence at the Tremains Art Deco Festival this month with one of the two ship arrivals setting a double first.
It will be the first visit to Napier by the HMNZS Otago which will arrive on February 14 along with the HMNZS Hawea.
It will also be the first time a Protector class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) captained by a woman has arrived in Napier.
Lieutenant Commander Lorna Gray was appointed the commanding officer of the HMNZS Otago last year, with the 34-year becoming the first female commanding officer of a Royal New Zealand Navy warship.
She joined the navy in 2005 and has previously served as a warfare officer aboard HMNZS Wakakura, HMNZS Manawanui and HMNZS Te Kaha and has been involved in several deployments through the Pacific and South East Asia as well as taking part in two six-month tours of duty as a UN military observer in Syria and Lebanon.