Media Release

Thursday, 11 November 2010

Sea Trial Shows Navy Ship Otago's Tanks Are In Good Order

Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMNZS OTAGO, has conducted a sea trial to eliminate possible causes of fuel contamination and has now been cleared to continue with operational duties.

On 29 October 2010, OTAGO was deployed to Samoa but returned to Devonport Naval Base due to fuel contamination. During the investigation into the issue the fuel storage tanks were drained and underwent pressure testing while the ship was alongside. This showed that there were no leaks from the hull into fuel systems.

A 24-hour sea trial has been conducted to put the ship under the stresses that are experienced at sea to eliminate a hull breach as the cause of fuel contamination. The trials included manoeuvring of the ship, high speed trials, and use of primary and secondary systems onboard. No ingress of water into fuel tanks has been detected throughout these trials.

"The trial has identified that neither OTAGO's systems nor hull are likely to have been the source of the salt water in the fuel," said Lieutenant Commander Simon Rooke, Commanding Officer of OTAGO.

"This is a great outcome as we can now refuel and be available for operational tasking again."

The focus of the investigation is now on the fuel supplied to OTAGO as a possible source of the contamination.

OTAGO will undertake sea training next week in the Auckland area.

ENDS

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