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The HMNZS CANTERBURY off the west coast of Niuatoputapu, with her embarked Seasprite carrying an underslung load of relief supplies to the island.

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

16 October 2009

HMNZS CANTERBURY ARRIVES IN SAMOA – Samoan Tsunami update 9

Royal New Zealand Navy Amphibious Sealift Vessel the HMNZS CANTERBURY has this morning berthed at Apia to offload aid, vehicles and supplies for the Tsunami ravaged south coast.

CANTERBURY has spent the previous two days anchored west of the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu, and the embarked Seasprite helicopter has moved 84 underslung loads of supplies from the ship to the island in more than 100 individual ‘sorties’.

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NZ Army engineers work to fill in a septic tank on the island of Niuatoputapu.

All relief cargo for Tonga from New Zealand and the additional cargo loaded during a short stop in Nuku’alofa earlier in the week is now ashore in Niuatoputapu. Also ashore are 14 NZ Army personnel including a medic, a nurse, and engineers who are coordinating and assisting engineering response tasks. These personnel will be joined by additional engineers when CANTERBURY returns to the island in the next two days.

The ship is now offloading the NZAID cargo in Apia, including 540 fale poles, telephone poles, plumbing and electrical supplies, and vast amounts of water piping requested by the Samoan Government. There are also 13 containers of donated aid coordinated by Michael Jones and the New Zealand Samoan community.

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The HMNZS CANTERBURY berthed at Apia, offloading supplies using her crane.

CANTERBURY will depart Apia tomorrow to return to Niuatoputapu to land Tongan Government and NZDF vehicles via her embarked Landing Craft. These are needed as the island’s reefs preclude all but the smallest vessels getting to shore. She will then come back to Apia.

Commanding Officer Commander Jim Gilmour is pleased with how the operation has gone so far.

“HMNZS CANTERBURY has proven that her designed amphibious capabilities including vast cargo and personnel carrying capacity, Landing Craft, Cargo Cranes and Helicopter makes her effectively a ‘one stop shop’ for this kind of contingency operation. I’m delighted with how much help we have been able to provide.”

ENDS

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