Post by flycookie on Oct 10, 2009 11:24:29 GMT 12
[Good pic at the link]
www.stuff.co.nz/national/2950289/Navys-36m-patrol-boats-tremendous
Navy's $36m patrol boats 'tremendous'
By GREER McDONALD - The Dominion Post Last updated 05:00 10/10/2009
From a distance the two new navy patrol boats look somewhat fake, but close up it is clear their matte grey paint jobs are unscratched and their hulls barnacle-free.
Pre-loved hand-me-downs these are not. At $36 million a pop, the patrol boats visiting Wellington for the first time are two of four new navy craft named after New Zealand lakes Rotoiti, Hawea, Pukaki and Taupo. The boats have started border patrol and surveillance work and are assisting the Fisheries Ministry, police and Conservation Department.
Crews have also begun exercises on the boats, learning the new systems and troubleshooting potential problems with their state-of-the-art technology.
From the bridge of the Taupo, Vice-Chief of the Defence Force Rear Admiral Jack Steer declared the patrol boats a success. "They're tremendous," he said.
"Did you see what we used to have? You can't compare them."
The boats were not perfect though. While circumnavigating Wellington Harbour, wipers going full tilt to clear the pelting rain, the windows on the bridge fogged up, with visibility virtually nil to the untrained eye.
Enter a young officer armed with a sponge. He leapt on to a desk among screens and buttons to wipe away the condensation.
"I don't know what went on there," Rear Admiral Steer said.
The boats were built to civilian standards, not military, so some things still needed to be ironed out – but they were useful to have in the fleet, he said.
The bridge of the Taupo – the control room for Lieutenant Grant Judson and his crew – was abuzz when The Dominion Post went aboard.
Alarm bells rang but were quickly silenced while young navigators in training yelped co-ordinates to Tom Allen, an able marine technician (the person who steers).
For Warrant Officer Joe Harema, the trip to Wellington was bittersweet.
After 32 years of navy life, this trip would be his last before he took up a desk job in Auckland. He said he would miss life on the sea. There had been massive changes in technology and innovation, he said. "From sails to engines."
* The Taupo and Pukaki will be open to the public at Queens Wharf today from 9am till 11am.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/2950289/Navys-36m-patrol-boats-tremendous
Navy's $36m patrol boats 'tremendous'
By GREER McDONALD - The Dominion Post Last updated 05:00 10/10/2009
From a distance the two new navy patrol boats look somewhat fake, but close up it is clear their matte grey paint jobs are unscratched and their hulls barnacle-free.
Pre-loved hand-me-downs these are not. At $36 million a pop, the patrol boats visiting Wellington for the first time are two of four new navy craft named after New Zealand lakes Rotoiti, Hawea, Pukaki and Taupo. The boats have started border patrol and surveillance work and are assisting the Fisheries Ministry, police and Conservation Department.
Crews have also begun exercises on the boats, learning the new systems and troubleshooting potential problems with their state-of-the-art technology.
From the bridge of the Taupo, Vice-Chief of the Defence Force Rear Admiral Jack Steer declared the patrol boats a success. "They're tremendous," he said.
"Did you see what we used to have? You can't compare them."
The boats were not perfect though. While circumnavigating Wellington Harbour, wipers going full tilt to clear the pelting rain, the windows on the bridge fogged up, with visibility virtually nil to the untrained eye.
Enter a young officer armed with a sponge. He leapt on to a desk among screens and buttons to wipe away the condensation.
"I don't know what went on there," Rear Admiral Steer said.
The boats were built to civilian standards, not military, so some things still needed to be ironed out – but they were useful to have in the fleet, he said.
The bridge of the Taupo – the control room for Lieutenant Grant Judson and his crew – was abuzz when The Dominion Post went aboard.
Alarm bells rang but were quickly silenced while young navigators in training yelped co-ordinates to Tom Allen, an able marine technician (the person who steers).
For Warrant Officer Joe Harema, the trip to Wellington was bittersweet.
After 32 years of navy life, this trip would be his last before he took up a desk job in Auckland. He said he would miss life on the sea. There had been massive changes in technology and innovation, he said. "From sails to engines."
* The Taupo and Pukaki will be open to the public at Queens Wharf today from 9am till 11am.