Navy ship heading to Raoul Island for Resupply
Tuesday 24 May, 2005
The Navy Diving Support Vessel, HMNZS MANAWANUI, will depart the Devonport Naval Base on Wednesday 25th May at 1000 am bound for Raoul Island. MANAWANUI will deliver personnel and provisions to resupply Raoul Island in a joint tasking with the Department of Conservation.
Background
HMNZS MANAWANUI, formerly the Star Perseus, a purpose built diving ship for North Sea operations, is the Navy’s diving support vessel. MANAWANUI was bought by the Navy to replace a former, smaller diving support craft, due to the expansion of the role of the Navy’s Operational Diving Team. The new ship arrived in Auckland at the end of June 1988. The ship is fitted with a triple lock recompression chamber and a wet diving bell. It has a 13 tone capacity crane, workshop facilities including electric and gas welding equipment and a lathe. The ship is also fitted with a photographic darkroom, various air compressors, and four point self tensioning mooring capacity. It also has a wide variety of navigation, radio and radar equipment, auto pilot, bow thrusters and twin shafts with control pitch propellers.
The ships badge includes the traditional divers helmet and the four stars of the Southern Cross. MANAWANUI’s home port is Whitianga.
Ends
For further information please contact Lieutenant Commander Barbara Cassin, Navy Public Relations Officer, Ph: (09) 4455002 or Mob: 021-2440638
Particulars
HMNZS MANAWANUI (A09), a purpose built dive support ship and the Navy’s diving support vessel.
Displacement: 911 tonnes
Length: 43.6 metres
Beam: 9.5 metres
Draught: 3.2 metres
Range: 5000 + nautical miles
Crew: 20 personnel
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