April 2009 - TE MANA and ENDEAVOUR depart for three month deployment
Navy warship, HMNZS TE MANA and Naval replenishment tanker, HMNZS ENDEAVOUR departed the Devonport Naval Base at 10:00am on 1 April for a three month deployment to North East Asia, South East Asia and Australia.
After a 19 day ocean passage, the first port of call will be Quingdao, China where the ships will join with those of 20 other Navies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern day Chinese Navy. Sailors from both ships will also attend ANZAC Day commemorations in Beijing and Hong Kong. Following a fleet review in Quingdao the ships will visit Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Klang in Malaysia, Darwin and Townsville.
The deployment is aimed to build on the emergent relationship with China and reinforce the NZDF commitment to the South East Asian region through participation in regional exercise activity under the Five Power Defence Arrangement and other regional bilateral defence agreements.
The Commanding Officer of HMNZS TE MANA, Commander Blair Gerritsen says, “Everyone on board both TE MANA and ENDEAVOUR is eagerly anticipating the forthcoming deployment where the opportunity to visit China will be a particular highlight, especially as it also offers us the chance to mix with a large number of Navies that will have ships attending the Chinese Fleet Review in Qingdao. The busy programme of regional exercises that follows in the South China Sea and Malaysia will also provide the ships with prime training environment. For many in TE MANA’s ship’s company, especially those on their first overseas deployment, this is set to be a fascinating and challenging experience.”
HMNZS ENDEAVOUR completed a maintenance period in February this year and has since conducted a short but intensive programme of preparation for the deployment. The Commanding Officer of HMNZS ENDEAVOUR, Commander Dave Toms, says his crew on board are now well trained and well prepared and are looking forward to the challenges ahead. He has taken pride the effort of his crew to prepare ENDEAVOUR for her return to sea, with all 49 men and women in his ‘team’ displaying a fine example of the core values of the Navy - courage, commitment and comradeship.
“I’m confident that ENDEAVOUR’s crew will be excellent ambassadors for the Navy, the New Zealand Defence Force and New Zealand”, he says.
ENDEAVOUR and TE MANA are due to arrive home to the Devonport Naval Base on 4 July 2009.