HHI Starts Builder Trials of Royal New Zealand Navy New Auxiliary Ship

HMNZS Aotearoa was built by HHI at the Ulsan shipyard. She was launched in April this year and christened in October.

WATCH || Aotearoa heads to sea for the first time during her Builders Sea Trials in Korea ⚓️

After three years of design & build effort, further trials will provide valuable insights into Aotearoa ahead of her upcoming journey home to NZ shores & into our Naval fleet.#NZNavy pic.twitter.com/tYPqtpuRSF

— Royal NZ Navy (@nznavy) December 10, 2019

Following sea trials, Aotearoa will sail to New Zealand in the second quarter of next year and will be formally commissioned at the Devonport Naval Base.

About HMNZS Aotearoa

At 173m long, the HMNZS Aotearoa is the largest ship the RNZN have ever had in the fleet. The vessel will carry 9,500 tonnes of fuel enough to ‘fill up’ a frigate like the HMNZS TE MANA or TE KAHA 13.87 times. And she’ll be able to carry and operate a RNZAF NH90 helicopter. 

She is the first ship to use the Rolls Royce’s Environship design, which includes a new wave-piercing hull for reduced resistance and fuel consumption. Capability features ice-strengthening and ‘winterisation’ for operations in Antarctica. The HMNZS Aotearoa sensors package includes a Farsounder-1000 sonar and SharpEye S and X-Band navigation radars. The two Bergen Main Engines will allow a maximum speed of 16 knots and a range of about 6,400 nm.