Serco Defence has been selected by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to provide specialist training services to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

Serco Asia Pacific Chief Executive Mark Irwin and Commodore Mathew Williams, Deputy Chief of Navy recently signed the contract at HMNZS PHILOMEL, Devonport Naval Base, within the Bridge Simulator Facility at the RNZN Navigation School.

Serco will provide a team of highly qualified and dedicated specialists to support RNZN Bridge Warfare Officer training. This contract is similar to Serco’s Training Support Services contract which has provided these services for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at HMAS Watson in Sydney since 2012. RNZN officers have previously travelled to Sydney to take part in this training but will now be undertaken by local New Zealanders.

The contract will require Serco to work in partnership with the RNZN over the next five years in developing training systems, solutions and courseware that enable officers to learn both theoretical and practical skills critical to their specialisation as Bridge Warfare Officers. This includes navigation (including astronomical navigation), ship driving, leadership and bridge resource management, using simulator training.