The first of four new Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) will soon be delivered to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) after an agreement was reached between BAE Systems and the New Zealand government, the company said Tuesday.
“We recognized that the RNZN needed to commission these ships into service as soon as practicable and have agreed to install Zodiac sea boats so that this can happen,” Merv Davis, maritime director for BAE Systems Australia said.
Rotoiti, the first IPV, was handed over Thursday and the remaining vessels will enter service progressively through the end of next month, BAE said. The company built the craft in Whangarei as part of Project Protector.
According to Davis, BAE had been engaged in constructive discussions with New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) since late 2008 to resolve issues delaying delivery of the IPVs.
Project Protector comprises the delivery of seven ships including the Multi Role Vessel, HMNZS Canterbury, four IPVs and two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). HMNZS Canterbury was delivered in May 2007.
Davis said discussions with the MoD for the delivery of the two OPVs were “well advanced.”
“Both parties are working together to agree the terms under which they will be offered for acceptance,” Davis said. “BAE Systems is committed to delivering the Project Protector vessels quickly. This agreement on the IPVs marks an important milestone in that journey,” he added.