Protector class IPV

The "Protector"-class inshore patrol vessel is a new class of inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) which replaced the RNZN's "Moa"-class patrol boats in 2007/2008.

Design & Construction

Conceived as part of Project Protector, the Ministry of Defence acquisition project to acquire one multi-role vessel, two offshore and four inshore patrol vessels. The Project Protector vessels will be operated by the RNZN to conduct tasks for and with the New Zealand Customs Service, the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Fisheries, Maritime New Zealand, and New Zealand Police. The future duties will include maritime surveillance and boarding, support to civilian agencies such as the customs service and search and rescue duties.

The ships were built in Whangarei by BAE Systems Australia (formerly Tenix Shipbuilding), and are based on a modified search and rescue vessel for the Philippine Coast Guard, with a different superstructure design. The cost for the four vessels is to be NZ$100 million. Friction stir welding was used in the construction of the superstructure, and Donovan Group being the first Australasian company to use the technique is credited as having won them the contract for this part of the vessel's construction.

Capabilities & Features

The IPVs will normally be used for inshore tasks within convert|24|nmi|km|-1 of the coastline. However, they will have operational ranges of convert|3000|nmi|km|-1. Together with their improved speed, this will be sufficient to intercept, for example, large off-shore fishing trawlers working illegally in New Zealand waters.

The vessels are intended to achieve 950 patrol days per year and allow sufficient crew rest, multi-crewing of the four boats with a total of six full crews.Fact|date=April 2008

They will have the ability to patrol (including receving vertical replenishment) in up to sea state 5 (seas rough, waves 2.5- 4m) and have the ability to survive in conditions of up to sea state 8 (seas very high, waves 9 - 14m). However, boat deployment and recovery will be limited to sea state 4 (seas moderate, waves 1.25 - 2.5m). These parameters are much more capable than the Moa Class which they replace. The shipbuilder claims "the vessel is more than capable of extending the Crown's operational envelope to southern ocean patrol duties". Fact|date=April 2008

Names

On March 31, 2006 the Hon. Phil Goff, Minister of Defence, announced that the IPVs will be named
*HMNZS "Hawea" (P3567) (delivered in December 2007)
*HMNZS "Pukaki" (P3568) (delivered in March 2008)
*HMNZS "Rotoiti" (P3569) (delivered in September 2007)
*HMNZS "Taupo" (P3570) (delivered in August 2008) [ [http://www.navy.mil.nz/visit-the-fleet/taupo/default.htm New Zealand Navy: HMNZS Taupo] ]

These ships' names come from New Zealand lakes: "Rotoiti" and "Taupo" in the North Island, "Hawea" and "Pukaki" in the South Island. They were also the names of Lake class patrol boats and frigates previously operated by the RNZN.

ee also

* Protector class OPV
* HMNZS Canterbury (L-421) MRV

References

External links

* [http://www.tenix.com/Main.asp?ID=974 Tenix Inshore Patrol Vessel]