Click photo to enlarge
Otago, off Melbourne. Photo by Andrew MacKinnon.
Five years since the first steel for new offshore patrol
vessel Otago was cut, testing on the problem-dogged ship
continues, holding up its commissioning by the Royal New
Zealand Navy.
Builder Tenix Defence began constructing the $90 million
Otago in February 2005.
The vessel was scheduled to be handed over to the New Zealand
Government in April 2007 and its sister ship Wellington in
October that year.
In September 2008, the Minister of Defence announced the
Government was entering contract negotiations with the
Australia-based ship-builders after the ships failed Lloyds
safety certification.
In May last year, mediation began with BAE Systems (which
acquired Tenix) to resolve outstanding issues.
The main issue is that the ships are 100 tonnes overweight
and no longer meet specifications to operate in Antarctic
waters.
The extra weight poses potential hazards, particularly when
the ships are in ice.
Because they float lower in water, the strengthened ice-belt
is lower than planned, leaving unstrengthened steel plates
vulnerable in icy seas.
The extra weight also means the ships will not have the
capability to add extra equipment, which may affect their
useful lifespan.
A Defence Force spokesman said last week contractor testing
on the ships continued and it had not yet been decided when
New Zealand crews would go to Melbourne to bring the vessels
to New Zealand.
Discussions on remedial work required on the navy's
multi-role vessel Canterbury had also not been completed, he
said.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp is in Turkey at a Nato Summit.
debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
