Royal Wolf’s ‘disaster room’ container for NZ Defence Force

22 November 2013

Royal Wolf’s ‘disaster room’ container for NZ Defence Force

Leading shipping container company Royal Wolf has modified one of its 20 foot containers into a ‘Disaster Room’ control centre for the New Zealand Defence Force.

The container, which is one of the latest modifications by Royal Wolf, who specialise in the hire and sale of shipping containers, will be based in Wellington because of the city’s susceptibility to earthquakes.

During an earthquake – or any disaster – the container will become a portable headquarters where the Defence Force is able to co-ordinate essential emergency services.

Royal Wolf Wellington Sales Manager, Rochelle Bullmore says a steel shipping container is ideal for the job because they are tough and virtually indestructible.

“If there’s an earthquake the safest place to be is in a container,” she says. “The way they are designed and manufactured makes them stronger than most other structures. If something falls on it, it might dent but it won’t wreck it or cause major damage”.

Jared Clarke, FM Contract Manager, Wellington Region at the NZ Defence, says the robust nature of a container was the perfect solution when Defence was looking for a strong and portable Incident Control Point.

“Our office is a converted garage. But with a solid container, while it might slip off its foundations, it will remain intact and still be operational in a disaster,” he says.

Mr Clarke says the disaster room also doubles as a safe box where valuable service plans for the camp buildings, and sewer and power cable networks, can be kept safe in a disaster.

“In an earthquake, or any sort of disaster, electronics fail and you can’t rely on computers so you need the old paper versions of these plans to be easily accessible, and more importantly, free from the risk of being damaged or destroyed.”

Mr Clarke says some of these plans are around 100 years old and many of them are used on a regular basis and not just during a disaster situation.

While the disaster room will be located at the Trentham Military Camp in Upper Hutt it can be easily transported if needed.

ENDS

© Scoop Media