HMNZS Otago commanding officer Lieutenant-commander Rob McCaw said Christmas was just around the corner, and given that he and his crew expected to be somewhere in the Southern Ocean during the festive season, he was making the most of the down time before their departure next Tuesday.
The 32-year-old has spent the first few days in port recording children's books on to DVD for his daughters Zara (2) and Juliette (1) to watch while he is monitoring fishing vessels in the Southern Ocean.
Before he leaves Dunedin, he will send the DVD and the books, along with other Christmas presents, to his Auckland home.
While the idea of being far from the comforts of home and family on Christmas Day might seem distressing for some, Lt-cdr McCaw said he and the crew had been preparing for the annual voyage for the past six months, and they had all gone through the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
So they were prepared for the absence of family over Christmas.
Instead, they would have Christmas dinner together, complete with tree and secret Santa.
''We're like family. We all look after each other.
''The ship has been through a lot of challenges over the last couple of years. We had a sailor die in an accident on shore, and we've been on search and rescue missions - some successful, some not.
''These things bring us together like family.
''Each ship has it's own spirit. Ours is a pretty strong spirit,'' he said.
The Protector class offshore patrol vessel will be patrolling the Southern Ocean to monitor fishing activities in the region, which involves keeping an eye on the legal fishing fleet to ensure they are complying with Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) rules.
It includes boarding and inspecting vessels, and gathering evidence of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activity.
The mission required sailing in some inhospitable conditions, he said.
''Last season, we had 15m swells and 60-knot winds ... the waves were as high as the bridge.
''It's the single most risky endeavour that the Royal New Zealand Navy takes, outside of conflict.''
While there would not be much sleeping done in weather like that, Lt-cdr McCaw said he was relishing the mission.
''It's challenging, beautiful, frustrating, exhilarating - any descriptive word you want to put in there - it's that, and more.''
- HMNZS Otago will be open to the public today from 10.30am-3pm at T/U sheds. The vessel will depart Dunedin on Tuesday at 10am.
