Navy's frigate systems about to get an upgrade

Dawn rises over the Navy frigate Te Kaha. Photo / Richard Robinson

The navy's two frigates are about to get a $58 million internal makeover to make them more efficient.

Contracts had been awarded to four companies and the work would be done in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Germany, Defence Minister Wayne Mapp announced today.

It was the second phase of a $58m project which would improve the performance and extend the range of conditions in which the two ships, HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana were effective, he said.

The contracts would upgrade management systems and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems on the ships. The Government said the upgraded systems would provide improved control and monitoring and more automation, which would reduce the need for technical manpower.

Both ships recently had their main engines replaced.

Te Kaha was launched in Melbourne in 1995 and commissioned in Auckland in 1997. Te Mana was commissioned in 1999.

The contracts were awarded to Siemens (NZ) Ltd, Noske-Kaiser NZ Ltd, Australian Marine Technologies Pty Ltd, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Australia.

- NZPA