The New Zealand Navy’s first Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) boat was officially named TAKAPU in a formal ceremony at Opua on 27 March.
The ceremony marked a major milestone in the project, which entails local company Northland Spars and Rigging delivering two new REA boats to increase the Navy’s amphibious, diving, surveying and rapid response capabilities.
The boats were designed by New Zealand naval architect Alan Walker and built locally in Opua by Terry Forsbrey’s team at Northland Spars and Rigging.
TAKAPU and sister boat TARAPUNGA will be delivered to the Navy over the next two months. The boats can be towed on a trailer, carried aboard Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels and CANTERBURY and carried in an Air Force C-130 Hercules.
As well as enhancing Navy’s capabilities, the project to obtain the new boats generated additional benefits in supporting local industry, said Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Wayne Burroughs during the naming ceremony.
“The Navy is delighted to be supporting local business through this partnership initiative,” he said. “The Navy maintains a close relationship with the region through our historical ties to Waitangi and this is certainly another positive link for the region and the Navy.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, April 1, 2013; Image: RNZN