Rolling in the deep the Royal New Zealand Navy's newest ship Aotearoa is undergoing her final sea trials off the coast of South Korea in preparation for her sail to New Zealand. This allows the crew to get acquainted with their new ship and her capabilities and for the ship to show what she’s got.
The crew have been busy, they have been training over in the UK and HMS Raleigh to keep their skills of RAS and refueling. The team have been at HMS Raleigh learning the processes for operating the equipment to transfer stores, fuel and other items from ship-to-ship whilst at sea. This is the second year that the training has been done, Captain Simon Rooke said.
Getting use to the new ship systems is also part of the sea trials, to get the crew use to these systems, also see how she handles, to see roughly what she can do, etc... I can't see too many crew learning or coming to grips issues with any of the systems...
HMNZS Aotearoa has a similar size crew as her predecessor HMNZS Endeavour... However, Aotearoa has many more automation and newer systems, she can refuel 2 ships at once and do refueling of helo during flight operations. fuel Aotearoa can carry 12, 20 foot containers 4 or which can carry ammunition or dangerous goods.
HMNZS Aotearoa is a unique vessel built to replace the now decommissioned tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR to provide global sustainment to New Zealand and coalition maritime, land and air units as well and New Zealand Allies. Sustainment is primarily provided through resupply of fuel and secondarily through resupply of dry goods, water, spare parts and ammunition.
Possible missions include Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR), support to United Nations security operations, support to a coalition Naval Task Group, or Antarctic resupply. Capabilities supporting these missions include the ability to carry 12 twenty-foot shipping containers, high capacity freshwater generation plants, self-defence systems, aviation and marine fuel cargo tanks, dual all-electric replenishment at sea rigs, one organic SH-2G(NZ) Seasprite or NH90 medium utility helicopter, integrated communications and bridge systems, an integrated platform management system and winterisation features such as upper deck heating and ice-strengthened hull.
While I am not 100% sure when the weapon systems ie; the CWIS Phalanx and typhoons and other military equipment like communications etc will be installed, but my guess will be once she arrives in New Zealand and after she gets commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy.
AOTEAROA is built to the exacting standards of the Lloyds Register of Shipping and of the International Maritime Organisation. These standards ensure that the RNZN continues to meet its commitments as a responsible ship operator now and into the future. Some design features to support these commitments include a hull design to reduce through life fuel use, electric power take-in propulsion for use at low speeds. Selective Catalytic Reducers to reduce harmful NOx exhaust emmissions, and adherence to Polar Code safety regulations and ice strengthened to Polar Class level 6 for Antarctic operations.
