Cannibalised parts for old frigate

By SCOTT MacLEOD

A retired frigate that has sat in port for three years will be cannibalised for parts as the Navy seeks a cheap fix for the stricken 33-year-old Canterbury.

The Navy has told Australia it can no longer send a frigate to two scheduled exercises because the Canterbury was knocked out by a fire in its auxiliary switchboard while at sea on October 10.

The Canterbury also is critical to the Navy's training needs as it tries to supply skilled sailors to the Project Protector vessels, due to be delivered in 2006.

The Canterbury is due to be retired in 20 months' time, and there were rumours it might be retired early because of the cost of repairs. But, apart from the training problems, the Navy has only two other frigates and is 33 per cent below strength without the Canterbury.

Yesterday the Navy said it would spend $2 million fixing the Canterbury, using parts stripped from her sister-ship the Wellington, which was retired in May 2000 after 30 years' service.

Navy chief Rear Admiral Peter McHaffie said the Wellington had been kept for "just such a situation" and was alongside the Canterbury at Devonport.

Repairs would start immediately and it was hoped the Canterbury would be back in action by late February.

Mr McHaffie said the Canterbury was an important training ship, and without it it would be "difficult" to supply trained staff to the frigates Te Kaha and Te Mana.

"Our training needs are long-term as well as immediate because we require a large group of personnel to manage the new ships of Project Protector," he said.

"It takes five years to train skilled technicians to take control of a modern communications and electronics system."

Defence Force spokesman Wing Commander John Seward said the Canterbury would be replaced for a scheduled "South Pacific tour". But it would take part in the Ocean Protector and Tasmanex exercises with Australia in February.

Several fisheries officers were aboard the Canterbury when the electrical fire broke out near the Chatham Rise. Switchboard crew extinguished the fire.

The Canterbury had investigated several fishing boats and boarded at least three during its shortened patrol, dubbed Operation Rise.

The $500 million Protector ships will include a multi-role vessel and up to seven patrol craft.