Second engine failure delays Navy's latest ship

The newest addition to the Navy's fleet is again on its way to New Zealand after she was forced back to port for a second time for engine repairs.

The 85m offshore patrol ship HMNZS Wellington's maiden voyage from the shipbuilder's yard in Melbourne last week was aborted after faults developed in both engines.

The ship diverted to Sydney and the faults were fixed.

But when it sailed again the same problem recurred in one engine and the ship had to go back to port.

On its maiden voyage a water seal failed in its port engine and its starboard engine control system developed a fault.

The water seal failed because it was incorrectly installed, Navy spokesman Commander Phil Bradshaw said.

A control system nodule was also replaced after failing on the maiden voyage but it failed again at sea, indicating a contributing fault elsewhere. It was tracked down to a fault in the wiring, which was repaired.

"They have fixed it and the system appears to be fine," he said.

The ship sailed from Sydney and was to arrive at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland probably on Friday.

The water seal fault was the same as the one that developed on Wellington's sister ship HMNZS Otago, which also had to return to port after an engine failure in March.

Repairs to both ships were repaired under warranty.

The two ship were bought by the Navy under the $500 million Project Protector programme which gave the Navy seven new ships, including the multi-role ship HMNZS Canterbury, the two offshore patrol vessels and four inshore patrol vessels.

- NZPA