HMNZS Aotearoa, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s maritime sustainment vessel, is sailing to Antarctica to deliver food, supplies and engineering equipment for New Zealand and United States bases on the ice.

Commander Rob Welford, Aotearoa’s Commanding Officer, says he and his ship’s company are excited to be travelling to a part of the world few people get to experience.

He has served in the Royal Navy for 28 years and the Royal New Zealand Navy since 2014. He took command of Aotearoa in 2023 and last year he completed a four-month deployment through the Indo Pacific. 

Icebergs and Southern Ocean weather would be a new experience, he said.

“From a Commanding Officer’s perspective, this is a really different kind of marinership, and a very rewarding one. This is all about the weather. You’re aware of the Roaring Forties, the Furious Fifties and the Screaming Sixties – well, they are not called that for no good reason. Down there, the weather can be relentless.”

Aotearoa has departed from Devonport Naval Base this morning and will stop in Geelong, Australia before continuing to Antarctica.