And its new commanding officer, Lieutenant-commander Lorna Gray, is loving every second of it.
The 35-year-old former Taieri resident recently became the first female commander of a Royal New Zealand Navy protector-class offshore patrol vessel, and yesterday was the first time she had returned to Dunedin aboard the Otago since taking over.
"There’s a proud moment when you’re taking a ship up the harbour [regardless of your position] when it’s your home port.
"But certainly, as the commanding officer, it makes it all that more special.
"It was a homecoming of sorts."
Lt-cmdr Gray said the role had been very exciting, mixed with plenty of challenges, and like every sailor, she was enjoying visits to some ‘‘amazing’’ remote and unusual places.
"There’s quite a diverse range of activities.
"When we went into Vanuatu, we dropped off bras for Project Uplift, which got distributed to the local women.
"And when we were in Honiara, in the Solomon Islands, we helped at a domestic violence centre, did some grounds work, helped with the kids and fixed whatever they needed fixing.
"During the week we’ll be doing a fishing patrol, deterring illegal fishermen. And then when we’re on a port visit, we engage with the local community."
Despite the serious business of looking after the ship’s 70 crew members and the multimillion-dollar naval vessel, Lt-cmdr Gray is looking forward to taking HMNZS Otago into the Southern Ocean for the first time.
"That’s pretty special. We get to go to many faraway Pacific Islands that normal cruise ships don’t go to.
"[But] how many New Zealanders get to go to the Kermadecs or the subantarctic islands?"
Before departing for the Southern Ocean tomorrow, she plans to make the most of some shore leave, and her first ports of call will be to catch up with friends near her former home on the Taieri Plain.
After patrolling the Southern Ocean, Otago will return to Dunedin in mid-December, for new orders.
Lieutenant-commander Lorna Gray
• Education: Wyllies Crossing School, The Taieri High School and University of Otago
• Joined Royal New Zealand Navy in 2005.
• Served as warfare officer on HMNZS Wakakura, HMNZS Manawanui and HMNZS Te Kaha.
• Tour of duty as UN military observer in Syria and Lebanon.
• Served as delivery crew for offshore patrol vessels HMNZS Otago and Wellington.
• Served on Otago as commissioning officer of the watch until 2011.
• Spent a year at the Officer Training School before returning to HMNZS Otago and Wellington.
• Spent time in Australia on a PWO exchange before returning to New Zealand last year.
• Appointed Lieutenant-commander of HMNZS Otago in June 2017.
