New navy ship breaks down

The Navy's new ship, HMNZS Otago, has delayed its New Zealand arrival after engine problems hit it over the weekend off Australia.

HMNZS Otago, an offshore patrol ship (OPV), was to have arrived in Auckland on Friday.

Instead it is back at Williamstown in Melbourne where it has been tied up for two years in a financial dispute with its builders.

Navy spokesman Commander Phil Bradshaw said Otago was doing sea trials off Melbourne when they had a fuel injection problem on one engine. They were fixing it when an alarm went off on the other engine.

"They felt it prudent to return to dock to ensure the engines were perfect before they left," he said.

He said the ship is under-warranty.

The ship returned under its own power and there was no danger.

The first engine has been fixed but the second engine needs a new manifold gasket.

It has to be obtained from MAN Engines in Germany but Commander Bradshaw said it was possible that one could be found in Australia.

"If that is so then Otago could be heading for home by the end of the week."

Otago, part of Project Protector, had been caught in a dispute with Australian shipbuilder BAE Systems.

It has agreed to pay nearly $85 million to fix problems with the navy's fleet of seven new ships.

Much of this money will be needed to modify the new multi-role ship HMNZS Canterbury to enable it to operate as designed and cope with rough weather without suffering damage.

The Offshore Patrol Vessels deliver substantial new capability to the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The ships can go further offshore, stay at sea longer, and conduct more challenging operations than the Inshore Patrol Vessels, and will enable the RNZN to conduct patrol and surveillance operations around New Zealand, the southern ocean and into the Pacific.

The OPV's are capable of many roles including maritime patrol, surveillance and response. They have the ability to conduct helicopter operations using a Seasprite SH2G helicopter and boarding operations using the ship's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats.

The OPV's have strengthened hulls which enable them to enter southern waters where ice may be encountered. They are not designed as ice-breakers or to enter Antarctic ice-packs, but have the range and capability to undertake patrols in the southern ocean where ice may be encountered.

The ships are highly automated and operate with a core crew of 35, plus a flight crew of 10 to operate a helicopter. The ships power and control systems are fully computerised.

- © Fairfax NZ News