Jul 08 - HMNZS Te Mana in the Gulf
HMNZS Te Mana continues Coalition maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf. Over the last month, the ship has completed the longest patrol of her deployment; 21 days. During this patrol, the Maritime Component Commander visited the ship and provided the crew with information as to how the ship was performing within the Coalition environment. The news that the ship was highly regarded was a source of pride and motivation for the ship’s company.
Image Right: LMT Kurt Menzies encouraging the Leading Hands to pull harder during the "Clash of the Ranks" Tug of War competition (NIS-07-103).
Te Mana subsequently undertook a 10 day maintenance period alongside Jebel Ali. This allowed a number of the ship’s company to enjoy a well earned rest and a chance to explore Dubai before beginning the next patrol.
The constant patrolling meant that the crew has maintained a high tempo, however there have also been activities to ensure that ship morale remains high, such as “The Clash of the Ranks” competitions. The recent competition was the fiercely contested tug of war which saw the Petty Officers dominate the other teams.
Above Image: The Flight Crew working hard to ensure the helo is well maintained (NIS-07-104).
The ship’s company are looking forward to the last port visit before the end of this deployment, particularly for the last minute ability to undertake cultural tours and activities and enjoy the last of Arabic hospitality before starting the long journey home.
To date the ship has conducted over 200 Approach and Assist visits.