NZ warship limps to Singapore on one engine

The navy frigate Te Mana is heading to Singapore on one engine for urgent dry-dock repairs. File photo / Greg Bowker

The navy frigate Te Mana is heading to Singapore on one engine for urgent dry-dock repairs after the discovery of mechanical problems during a five-month deployment to Australia and Asia.

The navy said divers found bearing problems on both A-brackets which held the propeller shafts during a routine check in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

The navy's Maritime Component Commander, Commodore John Martin, said the bearings had showed excessive wear but had not failed.

"We are in the situation of not taking any risk and getting her into dock to repair it."

He said the ship could have returned to New Zealand using its starboard engine only but the navy decided to cancel a visit to China and head to Singapore for repairs.

Once they were completed the ship would continue on its planned visit to Vietnam and Brunei.

Spare parts were being flown from western Australia and Cdre Martin said the ferrous metal bearings in both shafts would be replaced.

"We are quite concerned the bearing has deteriorated so quickly."

He said if the bearing had failed it would have been a catastrophic failure.

Repairs would take about six days.

Te Mana had been exercising with the Indian Navy Ship INS Kesari in the Bay of Bengal after leaving the Devonport naval base in Auckland in February.

The navy said during the exercises with Kesari, Te Mana practised boarding operations, communications, manoeuvres and exchanged personnel.

- NZPA