RNZN commissions new hydrographic vessel

The Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN’s) new hydrographic and diving support vessel has entered service, according to a statement issued by the government of New Zealand.

HMNZS Manawanui was commissioned on 7 June in a ceremony held at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland, and presided over by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

The RNZN’s new hydrography ship, HMNZS Manawanui , is seen here before it was commissioned on 7 June at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland. (RNZN)

The 84.7 m-long vessel, which is set to be home-ported at Gisborne on the country’s North Island, had arrived in New Zealand a few weeks earlier following a 46 day-long journey from Denmark.

It sailed into Wellington Harbour on 12 May after leaving the Danish port of Frederikshavn on its delivery voyage to New Zealand via the Panama Canal: a distance of 11,570 n miles (21,427 km). Manawanui had been sent to Denmark from Norway in February to be fitted out and conduct subsequent sea trials according to RNZN requirements.

The ship, which had previously been in service as a commercial offshore support vessel known as Edda Fonn , was procured by New Zealand in August 2018 for NZD103 million (USD67.3 million) to fulfil operational gaps in the RNZN’s diving support and maritime survey capabilities following the retirement of the service᾿s hydrographic ship, HMNZS Resolution , in 2012 and of the dive tender HMNZS Manawanui in 2018.