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HMNZS Kahu sails into Auckland Harbour for the final time before Decommissioning, flying a 12m 'paying off pendant'. Under the Command of LT Maurice "Muzz" Kennett

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
Tuesday 27 October, 2009
FINAL FAREWELL FOR NAVY SHIP

The sole remaining Navy In Shore Patrol Craft, HMNZS KAHU will formally decommission from operational service on Thursday 29 October, 2009, at the Devonport Naval Base, marked with two special events. At 6:20 am the lifting of the Mauri (life force) will take place with the formal decommissioning ceremony to commence at 12:00 midday.

It will not be an easy task for the Commanding Officer of HMNZS KAHU, Lieutenant Maurice (Muzz) Kennett and his crew of 17, as they make a final departure from the ship as the NZ White Ensign, the NZ Flag and the commissioning pennant are lowered for the final time. The haunting tunes from a lone piper will conclude this moving ceremony.

HMNZS KAHU made her final entry into the Auckland Harbour on Tuesday 13 October thence began preparations for her formal decommissioning from operational service. On this occasion of farewell, and to acknowledge her final time at sea, she was flying a 12 metre ‘paying off pennant”.

Background

HMNZS KAHU was built by Whangarei Engineering & Construction Ltd (WECO). Her keel was laid 8 Dec 1978 and the build completed May 1979. She began service as the HMNZS MANAWANUI (Pennant # A09) 28 May 1979 and operated as a support vessel for the RNZN’s diving teams in a variety of under water tasks. Most took place in the Hauraki Gulf to Bay of Plenty region and had a clear naval aspect, but some civilian in nature, such as the exploration and salvage work on the sunken Soviet passenger liner Mikhail Lermontov in Port Gore, Marlborough Sounds, in March 1986.

In March 1988 the RNZN bought a larger ship to provide facilities for deeper diving and an increased range of dive activities which was commissioned as HMNZ Dive Tender MANAWANUI and the original MANAWANUI commissioned as HMNZS KAHU (pennant # A04) on 17 May 1988. From 1988 KAHU has operated as the navigation and seamanship training vessel, provided support the RNZN Dive School, and conducting operations with other Government Agencies such as Fisheries, Customs, Police and DOC.

The former In Shore Patrol Craft, HMNZS KIWI, WAKAKURA, MOA and HINAU have all been formally decommissioned from operational service.

Interesting Fact

By decommissioning date HMNZS KAHU will have steamed 191,332 Nautical Miles (around the world approx 71/2 times) and been underway for 22,411 hrs. The underway hours do not reflect the many additional hours KAHU has spent at anchor supporting dive training and multi-agency operations.

Particulars - HMNZS KAHU A04

Standard Displacement: 91 tonnes
Length Overall: 27 metres
Beam: 6.1 metres
Draught: 2.4 metres
Speed: 12 knots
Range: 1,000 nautical miles
Complement: 18 (composition changes with training requirements)
Propulsion: Two Cummins diesels (710 hp)
Twin shafts
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Interesting Comparison between the old and the new

In Shore Patrol Craft (HMNZS KAHU and the former HINAU, MOA, WAKAKURA and HINAU) are 27 m in length and 91 tonnes.

In Shore Patrol Vessels (HMNZ Ships ROTOITI, PUKAKI, TAUPO and HAWEA) are 55m in length and 340 tonnes.

ENDS

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