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The former frigate HMNZS Canterbury stopped in Auckland yesterday for a scrub before heading up to the Bay of Islands to become a dive attraction.
The clean-up, which saw the 113.4m frigate waterblasted clean on a dry dock, was done to prevent sea squirt from being transferred into Northland's waters.
It is believed the pest established itself on the frigate's hull while she spent two years sitting tied up in Canterbury after being decommissioned.
Conditions of the resource consent granted to sink the frigate in Deepwater Cove, Cape Brett, required that it be free of unwanted organisms such as sea squirt.
Biosecurity NZ senior marine adviser Peter Stratford applauded the frigate's new owners, the Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust, in having the vessel thoroughly cleaned out of the water.
"They are taking very seriously the responsibility we all have to protect the marine environment," he said. "This whole process is a good example of everyone working together to protect our waters from harmful marine pests.
"This cleaning will ensure no unwanted organisms are moved into the Northland waters, ultimately making the Canterbury diving attraction even more fantastic."
Biosecurity NZ is working to educate all boaties, particularly those with vessels that are permanently moored, about good hull cleaning and anti-fouling practices as an essential part of preserving the marine environment.
"The cleaning of the Canterbury is an example on a large scale of the kind of responsibility we'd like to see all vessel owners taking," said Mr Stratford.
The Canterbury was launched by Princess Anne on May 6, 1970, and commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on October 22, 1971.
