New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release

Tuesday 2 June, 2009

Navy Ship In Rare Triple

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HMNZS Endeavour underway between RFA Wave Ruler to starboard (right), and HMAS Success to Port (left)

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For the first time HMNZS ENDEAVOUR has undertaken a three tanker replenishment. The Royal Navy logistic support vessel RFA Wave Ruler, together with the Australian tanker ship HMAS Success, participated in the exercise. On this occasion, the Wave Ruler passed the replenishment rig to ENDEAVOUR which in turn passed its rig to Success to test interoperability between the different Navies.

The unique replenishment took place during Exercise Bersama Shield 2009. In tandem with HMNZS TE MANA the ship deployed to Singapore and Malaysia to take part in the

annual joint Five Power Defence Arrangement Field Training Exercise and Command Post Exercise focusing on the operational and tactical levels of warfare.

During the Exercise ENDEAVOUR was able to participate in a Console Replenishment at Sea (RAS). The activity is for tankers (and is not a common event) to practice providing bulk fuel to each other - as opposed to its normal role of providing much smaller quantities to frigates.

A RAS is when the customer ship comes alongside (to about 30-42 meters) and the tanker passes hoses across, which are then connected and fuel is pumped from the tanker to the customer. This is all carried out while the ships are moving.

Commodore Ross Smith, the Maritime Component Commander, has been monitoring the progress of the Exercise from Joint Force Headquarters; “Bersama Shield, allows the NZDF to maintain and develop global partnerships by sharing operational capabilities, something that benefits all the Navies in developing and improving skills,” he says.

This year’s exercise was hosted by the Headquarters Integrated Area Defence Force in Butterworth, Malaysia. Altogether there were 4 frigates, 3 tankers, 2 patrol craft and approximately 90 aircraft taking part in the ten day exercise in the South China Sea that ending on 29 May.

Other activities included the:

• fleet review with about 50 other warships ships (28 from China and the remainder from 17 other navies)

• visit to Hong Kong to support the New Zealand Consulate

• International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) hosted by Singapore

• Western Pacific Naval Symposium Information Exchange Exercise hosted by Singapore (2 days in the South China Sea).

The ENDEAVOUR sailed from New Zealand on 1 April and is due to return to New Zealand on July 4.

Notes on HMNZS Endeavour

The Fleet Replenishment Ship HMNZS ENDEAVOUR is the third ship to bear the name in the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). .

ENDEAVOUR has been built specifically for the RNZN and carries supplies and fuel for RNZN, Commonwealth and Allied surface units. She can resupply ships at sea, or in overseas ports from the 7,500 tonnes of fuel in her eight tanks, or the supplies held in the four containers on deck. Additionally ENDEAVOUR can provide fuel to helicopters fitted with in flight refuelling.

ENDEAVOUR’s motto ‘Nil intentatum’ means ‘Nothing unattempted’. Her crest features a navigator’s compass and the stars of the Southern Cross, symbolising the pioneering navigations and survey work of Captain Cook. Her home port is New Plymouth and she is affiliated with the IHC charity, New Plymouth.

ENDS

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