Onboard the HMNZS Otago

Posted at 5:01pm Friday 15th Nov, 2013 | By Andrew Campbell andrew@thesun.co.nz

Officers and crew onboard the HMNZS Otago are all done with their Christmas shopping as Christmas Day this year will be spent “somewhere south of New Zealand”.

The 85metre offshore patrol vessel is in Tauranga this weekend on an operational visit on her way south with the final New Zealand port call at the ship’s home port of Dunedin.

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Former Mount Maunganui College head boy, Lt Commander Rob McCaw, and current Mount Maunganui College principal Russell Gordon. 

Energy and Resources Minister and Tauranga MP, Simon Bridges, Port of Tauranga CEO Mark Cairns, Western BOP Mayor Ross Paterson and staff representative Steve Hill were all invited aboard today, as was Mount Maunganui College headmaster Russell Gordon and assistant principal Tina Yule.

The Mount Maunganui College representatives were onboard to reconnect with commanding officer of the ship, Lieutenant Commander Rob McCaw, who was the head boy of the Tauranga school in 1998 – the year before he joined the RNZ Navy.

For Rob being in command on board Otago as she arrives at Mount Maunganui is he believes, a once in his career opportunity, and one he relished.

“Coming here has been one thing I’ve been trying to do for three years now, we have been so busy. This is the first opportunity,” says Rob.

Rob used to sail in Tauranga Harbour, but the navy was not his immediate career choice. He was an air cadet and looking at the RNZAF until doubt was cast on the future of the strike wing. One of the attractions of the navy life is the feeling being part of something bigger than yourself, says Rob.

Another former BOP resident on the bridge is the ship’s executive officer Lieutenant Nicholas Foster. His mother lives in Tauranga, but he was born and raised in Whakatane.

Nicholas joined the RNZN straight from high school and after the first year undertook a three year degree in science and geography. He’s been in the navy eight years and has a five year plan that includes further education and postings.

The shore party was picked up at Salisbury Wharf and taken out in two of the ship’s Zodiac RIBs, the $600,000 ship runabouts – dwarfed by the 314m long cruise ship Celebrity Solstice cruise ship entering the port as the ship departed.

After being winched aboard the visiting party were greeted by Rob in the hanger and escorted to the bridge for coffee and breakfast prepared by navy chefs trained to the London Guilds standard.

Somewhere ‘south of New Zealand’ on a previous tour the ship experienced 17m seas, breaking blue over the top of the bridge, which is about 14metres above the water.

When it happened Rob says crew immediately check to see if the smokers, outside on the deck below, had been doused.

Otago has an ice strengthened hull enabling her to enter southern waters where ice may be encountered. The ship also has the range and other cold-climate capability to undertake operations in the Southern Ocean.

The offshore patrol vessels are intended for multi-service use and can be operated with a navy crew of about 30, but with accommodation for just over 60.

Otago’s main armament is the bushmaster 25mm naval gun which gets regular firing.

“It’s good for morale,” says Rob.

“Guy Fawkes night we were in a firing area and they were shooting at red distress flares for anti-aircraft practise, and super tomatoes.”

Super tomatoes are large red floats weighted at the base that are tossed into the sea for target practise.

Otago and sister ship Wellington are versatile ships delivering the capability to undertake Exclusive Economic Zone patrols, surveillance and military operations around New Zealand, the Southern Ocean and Pacific.

Otago and Wellington can operate further offshore, stay at sea longer, and conduct a wider scope of operations – using their helicopter capability, sea-boats and embarked forces.

With a cruising speed of 10 knots they can remain at sea for months, or it can be burned up in a high speed dash. Rob recounts on a trip to Minerva Reef and back at 22 knots where they returned with virtually empty tanks.

The ship is also designed to work in with other forces, both civilian and military. There’s a dog kennel for customs’ dogs – or military dogs. The quarter deck, which is presently occupied by containers, one containing frozen food the other inflatable dinghies, can be cleared to make room for the bigger SAS boats.

HMNZS Otago is expected to put to sea on Monday.