Royal NZ Navy Vessel HMNZS Manawanui at Norfolk Island

This week on Tuesday morning, 18 June 2024, a photograph was shared by Bron Stewart on the Norfolk Island Noticeboard Facebook page, of a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, near our Norfolk Island shoreline.

Reading the comments from John Softley on the page I learnt that this was a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, Pennant #A09. https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/.../ships-and.../hmnzs-manawanui/

I checked out a few internet links and videos of the HMNZS Manawanui and learnt that this ship provides the navy with the ability to conduct a range of specialist diving, salvage and hydrography tasks around New Zealand and across the South West Pacific.

Bing Videos

Take a 360° Tour - HMNZS Manawanui - 8K

YouTube

NZ Defence Force

Royal New Zealand Navy: HMNZS Manawanui

YouTube

NZ Defence Force

The official Royal New Zealand Defence Force internet link has many more details regarding the HMNZS Manawanui. It describes the specialist operations, which includes coast and harbour survey, prior to the approach of larger support ships. The ongoing mission to eradicate explosive remnants of the war in the South Pacific, underwater explosive disposal, underwater search and recovery and limited mine countermeasures.

HMNZS Manawanui - New Zealand Defence Force (nzdf.mil.nz)

The HMNZS Manawanui homeport is Gisborne, New Zealand, the Ship Sponsor, is Dame Jacinda Ardern and Commanding Officer, is Commander Yvonne Gray. The HMNZS Manawanui badge is the “Trident and Sun”. Pennant #A09 was built in 2003 in Norway, and delivery in May 2019 to New Zealand and in service November 2019. There are 39 core crew, and the ship has 66 bunks. The vessel is 84.7 length, 18m beam, 6.8m draught, 5741 tonnes displacement, speed of 14 knots and range 7000 nautical miles.

Dive and Hydrographic Vessel | Ministry of Defence Website

Navy's specialist divers and hydrographers provide vital services to New Zealand, the Pacific, and our partners, such as undertaking underwater search and rescue with the New Zealand Police, surveying the seabed following major earthquakes, and removing unexploded historical ordnance in the Pacific islands.

An 85 metre Norwegian built multi-role offshore support vessel, the MV Edda Fonn arrived in New Zealand on 12 May 2019 as part of a project to deliver a new dive and hydrographic capability to the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The ship was commissioned as HMNZS Manawanui - the fourth RNZN ship to sail under this name - on 7 June 2019 at a ceremony with Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, the Ship Sponsor.

The project budget for the purchase of the ship, completion of the modifications, and the introduction into service of this dive and hydrographic capability is NZD$103 million.

CURRENT STATE

HMNZS Manawanui has been in service since November 2021, enabling the dive and hydrographic capability of the NZDF to be delivered both domestically and in support of regional partners.

In July 2022, Manawanui was deployed to the Southwest Pacific, sailing at the end of that month to spend August and September participating in Operations Mahi Tahi and Render Safe.

Under Operation Mahi Tahi, a hydrographic survey of the Tongatapu outer reef was made at the request of the Government of Tonga through Land Information.
HMNZS Manawanui and HMNZS Matataua also conducted reconnaissance of waters around Tuvalu for Operation Render Safe, which finds and safely disposes of Explosive Remnants of War.

In February 2023, the ship supported relief efforts following Cyclone Gabrielle, checking on isolated coastal communities along the East Coast of the North Island, delivering supplies, water, and food to places such as Tolaga Bay, Waipiro Bay, Motuhina, and Waioue Stream.

Further modification work has continued as part of the lead up to Operational Release.

Here are a few images of the HMNZS Manawanui from the official Royal New Zealand Defence Force internet pages, plus thank you Bron Stewart for sharing the photo on Facebook, letting the Norfolk Island community of the visiting vessel with week.

Betty Matthews

21 June 2024