Navy's multi-role ship launched

The first ship of the Royal New Zealand Navy's new $500 million seven-strong fleet was launched this week near Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

A fitout of the multi-role vessel is now under way at subcontractor Merwede Shipyard's factory.

The ship is expected to be ready to begin sea trials in June, and in July it will be delivered back to Netherlands contractor Tenix Defence.

From Europe it will be sent to Williamstown in Victoria, Australia, for a final fitout with the finishing touches including the installation of a 25mm gun and military communications systems.

The ship should be delivered to the Ministry of Defence in New Zealand by the end of the year.

Beside its ability to carry up to 250 troops, four utility helicopters, and a Sea Sprite helicopter, the vessel is equipped to carry two landing craft, giving it the capacity to ferry people and equipment to shore without the use of a wharf.

It is also ice-strengthened, making it capable of dealing with the waters of the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic.

Defence Minister Phil Goff recently said the multi-role vessel had been built within budget and the allotted timeframe.

The new ship is part of an overall defence project that has been dubbed "Project Protector", Mr Goff said.

It will add to six other vessels being built for the Royal New Zealand Navy - two offshore patrol vessels in Melbourne and four inshore patrol vessels in Whangarei.

Both an inshore and an offshore patrol ship will be ready to be launched in September.

The second offshore ship and the three remaining inshore vessels will be launched next year. and the entire project is expected to be complete by 2008.

Mr Goff said the ships would contribute to the economic and security interests of New Zealand, and would increase the country's capacity to help with overseas disaster relief.

Although they would be run by the Navy they would work for a range of Government departments in a multi-agency approach to protecting the country's borders.