HMNZS MANAWANUI
The beginning of March saw MANAWANUI enter a three week maintenance period. The maintenance period was to include a complete re-vamp of the air conditioning on board and the replacement of the ship’s anchoring system as well as work on the bow thruster.
The unusually hot temperatures experienced during March made the ship almost unbearable with the air conditioning out of action. Our ship’s company along with the civilian contractors braved the searing heat to continue work as the maintenance period wore on.
With the air conditioning still out of action and an un-tested anchoring system we made the short ‘but perilous’ journey from the berth to Calliope Dock. We spent a night ‘at sea’ in the dock which remained partially flooded. The morning brought about an inclining experiment, where the ship is tilted using large weights and the movement is measured to find the ship’s centre of gravity. Most were expecting a great 45º roll and some ‘cool’ photographs but we were all bitterly disappointed when the ship was rolled to a meagre 3º! On completion of the trial the ship returned to its normal berth to complete the final stages of the maintenance period.
With the maintenance period complete, the air conditioning had still not been fixed but we none-the-less sailed for Sea Acceptance Trials (SATS). The initial SATS period was reduced to 36 hours due to delays with our new anchor wire (which the ship needs for operations). With the wire on board, the actual trials on the new anchoring system saw the ship spend long hours conducting two, three and four point anchorages in the vicinity of Waiheke Island.
While the new system was shiny and new, with all the bells and whistles, it still had a few creases to iron out. The civilian contractors worked tirelessly to make the final adjustments. Having spent two whole days conducting bow thruster and anchoring trials, the ship’s company got to relax and have some fun with a Autumnal “Hands to Bathe” in Onetangi Bay, Waiheke. We spent the night at anchor before returning to the naval base to add some finishing touches, finally sort out the new air conditioning, and embark mine countermeasures (MCM) equipment in preparation for the upcoming MCM exercise.
After the MCM exercises, a period of sea training and some leave, we will head north to Opua and spend ANZAC Day in Northland.
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