The Royal New Zealand Navy’s diving support and hydrographic survey vessel has arrived in New Zealand after a 46-day voyage from Norway.
The former offshore support vessel MV Edda Fonn underwent conversion work in Denmark before heading for Wellington, via Panama.
Future HMNZS Manawanui will officially be handed over to the to the Crown on May 21 in Auckland, before spending the rest of the year being fitted with military equipment.
Once in service, HMNZS Manawanui will be utilized for disaster relief, search and recovery and explosives disposal in the Pacific.
A typical mission for Edda Fonn could be to the islands in Fiji. Using just over three days to get to the islands and being able to hold station there for close to a month.
The purchase of the 85-meter vessel and its subsequent modifications will cost the Royal New Zealand Navy an estimated NZ$103 million.