Fri, 6 Aug 2004
Project Protector
The Ministers of Defence and Finance announced on 30 July that the contract had been signed between the Government and
ship builders Tenix Limited for the construction of seven new ships to be operated by the Navy.
The Ministers of Defence and Finance announced on 30 July that the contract had been signed between the Government and
ship builders Tenix Limited for the construction of seven new ships to be operated by the Navy.
At a brief ceremony today held with Tenix, Ministers welcomed this next stage of the project.
The Minister of Finance, Dr Michael Cullen, said the $NZ500 million project is part of the approved Long Term
Development Plan for the New Zealand Defence Force.
The Minister of Defence, Mark Burton is very pleased that the project is now under way.
"It is planned that the Multi Role Vessel (MRV), two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and four Inshore Patrol Vessels
(IPVs) will enter service over the next 3 years.
"They will represent a significant increase in the Government's capability to meet military and civilian
responsibilities throughout New Zealand's extensive EEZ, in the South Pacific and in the Southern Ocean.
"They will fulfil a broad range of requirements including personnel and cargo sealift, emergency response, fisheries and
customs patrols and at sea training for the Royal New Zealand Navy." The Minister of Defence said a whole of government
approach had been followed from the inception of the project and during the tender evaluation phase.
"The ships will be operated by the Navy and used for military purposes as well as meeting the needs of a number of other
Government agencies.
Each ship will have designated facilities for staff from other agencies who will embark when required for different
operations.
The MRV will have accommodation for up to fifty Army and Air Force personnel as part of the ship's company and further
space for up to 250 soldiers together with their vehicles and stores to carry them on operational deployments.
It will have the capability to carry an Infantry Company including its Light Armoured Vehicles and other equipment and
will have the capacity to move New Zealand Defence Force equipment for operations like the recent Solomon Islands and
East Timor deployments.
The ship will also be fitted out to enable humanitarian and emergency responses involving multi-agency personnel and
equipment, in the South Pacific.
Both the MRV and the OPVs will be ice strengthened for operations in the Southern ocean and the Ross Sea and will also
have the capability to embark Seasprite helicopters, which will enhance their ability to undertake maritime patrol
tasks.
ENDS