Project Protector
Encyclopedia
Project Protector was an procurement project for the Royal New Zealand Navy
(RNZN) that occurred during the 2000s. At the start of the decade, the New Zealand government retasked the New Zealand Defence Force
to be equally capable in combat, peacekeeping, and disaster relief, with the RNZN to focus on patrols of the Economic Exclusion Zone and sealift
operations. After a series of reviews found that the RNZN was lacking in these capabilities, Project Protector was established to acquire three new ship types for the RNZN; a single multi-role sealift ship, two offshore patrol vessels, and four inshore patrol vessels. After a two-year information-gathering and tender
process, Australian company Tenix Defence
was selected as the primary contractor.
The sealift ship, built by Dutch company Merdwe Shipyard in Rotterdam, and based on a commercial roll-on/roll-off ferry built for Ireland. In mid-2007, the ship became the first Project Protector vessel to enter service, but problems during her early career required a remedial program to be put in place. The two Protector class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) were built by Tenix at their Melbourne, Australia shipyard to a design used by the Irish Naval Service
, but several design mistakes led the ships to being 100 tons heavier then planned, and the OPVs did not commissioned until 2010. Four Protector class inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) were built at Tenix's North Island shipyard, and entered service during 2009. Because of the delay in bringing the ships to active duty (all seven were due into service by the end of 2007), BAE Systems Australia
(which had acquired Tenix in 2008) was required to pay a compensatory settlement to the RNZN in early 2010.
had to be equally capable of both combat and peacekeeping operations. From the navy's perspective, prioritisation was given to sealift
and transport of New Zealand Army
units and equipment, and to maritime surveillance of both New Zealand's Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ), which covers around 3000000 sqkm, and the EEZs of allied South Pacific nations. The RNZN was also required to be capable of non-military operations, such as disaster relief, throughout the region.
To identify if the RNZN could meet the capabilities identified in the DPF, the government initiated the Maritime Patrol Review (MPR), which was released in February 2001, followed by the more ship-specific Maritime Forces Review (MFR), which commenced in May 2001 and was released in January 2002. These reviews were not Ministry of Defence
-only affairs: input was sought from other government ministries and bodies, including the Ministry of Fisheries
, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Customs Service
, the New Zealand Police
, and Maritime New Zealand
. These reviews identified that the RNZN did not meet the capability requirements identified in the DPF. The main areas identified as lacking were patrol capabilities, both in the EEZ and inshore, and a sealift
capability to transport personnel, equipment, and supplies throughout the region for both military and relief operations. The MFR also found that the navy's two Anzac class frigates
were both overcapable and too few in number to effectively patrol New Zealand's waters, and that tying them up on these duties prevented their use on more suitable deployments.
Around the same time as the reviews, the RNZN was looking to replace the training frigate , which was due to leave service in 2005. The decision not to order the additional two frigates suggested under the Anzac acquisition project and the increased operational tempo during the early 2000s was straining the navy's capabilities and needed to be addressed.
), and a multi-role sealift ship. The aim was to bring all three projects under a unified umbrella, administered by a single prime contractor.
In July 2002, the New Zealand government sent details of Project Protector to sixty shipbuilders and ship design companies, and invited submissions from interested parties. Six companies were selected from the 21 responses received by the 13 September 2002 deadline; BAE Systems
(partnering with Austal Ships and Appledore Shipbuilding), Blohm + Voss
, DSA (a collaboration between Damen Shipyards, Schelde Shipbuilding, and Australian Defence Industries
), Singapore Technologies Marine, Tenix Defence
, and Vosper Thornycroft Shipbuilding. On 26 May 2003, these six were invited to submit more detailed proposals, and were given until 31 October 2003 to respond.
Evaluation was predicted to be completed by early 2004, with a contract awarded by mid 2004. Tenix Defense was identified as the best supplier in April 2004, and the contract between the Ministry of Defence
and Tenix was signed on 29 July 2004. The project was predicted in 2003 to cost NZ$500 million. Project Protector is the most complex project ever undertaken by New Zealand, with three ship classes (plus embarked small craft) under construction across three nations. All three ships were to be built to commercial standards, and maintained like commercial vessels. In order to operate the new ships, the RNZN had to recruit and train an additional 245 personnel.
All seven ships were planned to enter service across 2007. However, by August 2008, only sealift ship had entered service, and that had occurred six months behind schedule. The entry into service date for the six patrol boats was pushed back to the end of 2008. Further delays meant that the last Project Protector vessel did not enter service until mid-2010. In early 2010, the RNZN received and NZ$86.4 million settlement from BAE Systems Australia
(which had acquired Tenix in 2008) as compensation for the delayed entry-into-service dates of the seven ships, along with defects in the sealift ship design, problems including a 100-ton displacement increase in the offshore patrol vessels, and other issues across the project.
The ship had to be available for 160 days at sea per year, plus another 130 days berthed but available for deployment. She had to be capable of transporting a New Zealand Army
heavy company
and its equipment (identified in the initial proposal as 250 personnel, 315 lane metres of vehicles, and 33 TEU
of equipment and stores), and be able to transfer the personnel and equipment between the ship and shore. The vessel had to embark and operate one SH-2G Super Seasprite
, and be fitted with aviation facilities capable of operating two Cougar-size helicopters or one Chinook-size helicopter. Although the review called for the ship to be armed with a 40 millimetre gun, the 2003 request for proposals stipulated a 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) gun; this would help keep the project within the NZ$500 million budget, and provide ammunition commonality with the M242 Bushmaster
fitted to the Army's LAV III
infantry fighting vehicle.
The multi-role vessel was the first ship completed under Project Protector. Based on , a commercial roll-on/roll-off ferry, Canterbury has a displacement of 8000 tonnes (7,873.6 LT), a top speed of 19 knots (10.3 m/s), and a range of 6000 nautical miles (11,112 km). The vessel is capable of transporting 250 troops, up to 40 vehicles in 403 lane metres of space, 33 ISO 20-foot containers
(including eight dedicated ammunition containers) and 20 NATO pallets of supplies. Loading is performed wharfside through stern and side access ramps, or via two 60 tonnes (59.1 LT) cranes. Two 23 metres (75.5 ft) landing craft medium (LCM) are carried by Canterbury for situations where wharf unloading is unavailable; these can be launched and recovered via the cranes, while "marriage blocks" and "flippers" help the LCMs dock with the stern ramp. One Super Seasprite and up to four NHIndustries NH90 helicopters can be hangared aboard. The ship is fitted with a single 25 mm Bushmaster gun in a Typhoon mounting
and two 12.7 mm machine guns for self defence. Canterburys hull is strengthened to Finnish-Swedish ice class
1C, allowing her to operate in the Ross Dependency
.
The ship was built by the Merdwe Shipyard in Rotterdam, with steel cutting starting on 15 April 2005. Launched in February 2006, and commenced sea trials in July. Handover to Tenix was expected to occur in August; the vessel would then sail to the Tenix shipyard at Williamstown, Victoria
, Australia for fitting of military equipment. It was originally planned to have Canterbury commissioned into the RNZN during January 2007, but delays meant that the ship did not enter service until June 2007. Problems were encountered early in the ship's career, relating primarily to the RHIB alcove docks, which were in a position to be easily swamped, with resulting damage to the boats themselves. Seakeeping ability was also an issue. Most of the problems stemmed from the ship's parent design, a short, fat civilian ferry designed to operate in the calm Irish Sea
, not on military deployments in deep ocean, and the failure of Tenix and the RNZN to address this during design and construction. A remedial program was initiated in 2008.
Two offshore patrol vessels, Wellington and Otago, were built by Tenix at Williamstown from hull modules fabricated at Williamstown and superstructure modules assembled at Whangarei
, North Island, then shipped to Australia. The 1740 tonnes (1,712.5 LT) displacement, 85 metres (278.9 ft) long vessels were based on an Aker Marine design operated by the Irish Naval Service
. The ships were fitted with an MSI-Defence Systems 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) gun as main armament, and could embark and operate a helicopter. The patrol vessels' hulls were strengthened to Finnish-Swedish ice class
1C for operations in the Ross Dependency
.
Work started on 22 February 2005. The OPVs were due to complete in April and October 2007. However, the ships were not launched until November 2006 and October 2007 respectively, and by December 2008 were yet to commission. The main problems were safety issues with the RHIBs and an extra 100 tons of weight over the design specifications. Wellington did not commission until May 2010; the last Project Protector ship to enter service.
. They could not be updated to the standard required by the Maritime Forces Review, so new ships were instead ordered to replace them on a one-for-one basis.
The IPVs were based on a 56 metres (183.7 ft) search-and-rescue vessel class built by Tenix for the Philippine Coast Guard
. The vessels had a 340-ton displacement, and were 55 metres (180.4 ft) long. They were only fitted with 12.7 mm machine guns instead of the 25 mm guns fitted to the other Project Protector ships. The four vessels built at Tenix shipyard in Whangarei
, North Island. On the launch of the first IPV, , was launched in July 2007, and during sea trials exceeded several design expectations: her maximum speed of 25 knots (13.6 m/s) was a knot higher than expected, she was capable of double her 3000 nautical miles (5,556 km) designed range, and she had better seakeeping ability in heavy conditions than first thought. The last ship, was launched in August 2008. After the final patrol boat was completed, Tenix ceased operations at the Whangarei facility. Although there were some problems with the vessels, all four entered service during 2009.
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZN) that occurred during the 2000s. At the start of the decade, the New Zealand government retasked the New Zealand Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
to be equally capable in combat, peacekeeping, and disaster relief, with the RNZN to focus on patrols of the Economic Exclusion Zone and sealift
Sealift
Sealift is a term used predominantly in military logistics and refers to the use of cargo ships for the deployment of military assets, such as weaponry, vehicles, military personnel, and supplies...
operations. After a series of reviews found that the RNZN was lacking in these capabilities, Project Protector was established to acquire three new ship types for the RNZN; a single multi-role sealift ship, two offshore patrol vessels, and four inshore patrol vessels. After a two-year information-gathering and tender
Request for tender
A request for tender, commonly abbreviated to RFT, is a formal, structured invitation to suppliers for the supply of products or services. In the public sector, such a process may be required and determined in detail by law to ensure that such competition for the use of public money is open, fair...
process, Australian company Tenix Defence
Tenix Defence
Tenix Defence was Australia's largest defence contractor with core capabilities in Aerospace, Land, Marine and Electronic Systems applications. BAE Systems announced its intention to acquire the company from Tenix in January 2008 and the acquisition was completed in June 2008 for A$775 million...
was selected as the primary contractor.
The sealift ship, built by Dutch company Merdwe Shipyard in Rotterdam, and based on a commercial roll-on/roll-off ferry built for Ireland. In mid-2007, the ship became the first Project Protector vessel to enter service, but problems during her early career required a remedial program to be put in place. The two Protector class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) were built by Tenix at their Melbourne, Australia shipyard to a design used by the Irish Naval Service
Irish Naval Service
The Naval Service is the navy of Ireland and is one of the three standing branches of the Irish Defence Forces. Its main base is in Haulbowline, County Cork....
, but several design mistakes led the ships to being 100 tons heavier then planned, and the OPVs did not commissioned until 2010. Four Protector class inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) were built at Tenix's North Island shipyard, and entered service during 2009. Because of the delay in bringing the ships to active duty (all seven were due into service by the end of 2007), BAE Systems Australia
BAE Systems Australia
BAE Systems Australia, a subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, is the largest defence contractor in Australia. It was formed by the merger of British Aerospace Australia and GEC-Marconi Systems and expanded by the acquisitions of Armor Holdings in 2007 and Tenix Defence in June 2008.-History:BAE Systems'...
(which had acquired Tenix in 2008) was required to pay a compensatory settlement to the RNZN in early 2010.
Background
In the June 2000 Defence Policy Framework (DPF), the New Zealand government identified that the New Zealand Defence ForceNew Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
had to be equally capable of both combat and peacekeeping operations. From the navy's perspective, prioritisation was given to sealift
Sealift
Sealift is a term used predominantly in military logistics and refers to the use of cargo ships for the deployment of military assets, such as weaponry, vehicles, military personnel, and supplies...
and transport of New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
units and equipment, and to maritime surveillance of both New Zealand's Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ), which covers around 3000000 sqkm, and the EEZs of allied South Pacific nations. The RNZN was also required to be capable of non-military operations, such as disaster relief, throughout the region.
To identify if the RNZN could meet the capabilities identified in the DPF, the government initiated the Maritime Patrol Review (MPR), which was released in February 2001, followed by the more ship-specific Maritime Forces Review (MFR), which commenced in May 2001 and was released in January 2002. These reviews were not Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence is the arm of the New Zealand Government charged with providing advice on defence matters, as well as providing civilian administration and oversight over the New Zealand Defence Force....
-only affairs: input was sought from other government ministries and bodies, including the Ministry of Fisheries
Ministry of Fisheries (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Fisheries , also known by its acronym MFish, is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is ensuring the sustainable utilisation of fisheries. This involves conserving, using, enhancing and developing New Zealand's fisheries resources. New Zealand's Minister of...
, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Customs Service
New Zealand Customs Service
The Customs Service is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is to provide border control and protect the community from potential risks arising from international trade and travel, as well as collecting duties and taxes on imports to the country. New Zealand's Minister of Customs...
, the New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
, and Maritime New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand is a Crown entity responsible for protecting the maritime environment within New Zealand and maintaining safety and security....
. These reviews identified that the RNZN did not meet the capability requirements identified in the DPF. The main areas identified as lacking were patrol capabilities, both in the EEZ and inshore, and a sealift
Sealift
Sealift is a term used predominantly in military logistics and refers to the use of cargo ships for the deployment of military assets, such as weaponry, vehicles, military personnel, and supplies...
capability to transport personnel, equipment, and supplies throughout the region for both military and relief operations. The MFR also found that the navy's two Anzac class frigates
Anzac class frigate
The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...
were both overcapable and too few in number to effectively patrol New Zealand's waters, and that tying them up on these duties prevented their use on more suitable deployments.
Around the same time as the reviews, the RNZN was looking to replace the training frigate , which was due to leave service in 2005. The decision not to order the additional two frigates suggested under the Anzac acquisition project and the increased operational tempo during the early 2000s was straining the navy's capabilities and needed to be addressed.
Requisitions
The capability gaps identified by the MFR prompted the instigation of Project Protector. The "fleet renewal project" consisted of three different procurement projects to meet the identified capability requirements; a class of offshore patrol vessels to undertake EEZ operations and relieve the pressure on the Anzacs, improved inshore patrol capabilities (either through a new ship class or upgrades to the existing Moa class patrol boatsMoa class patrol boat
The Moa-class patrol boat is a class of patrol boats built between 1978 and 1985 for the Royal New Zealand Navy by the Whangarei Engineering and Construction Company...
), and a multi-role sealift ship. The aim was to bring all three projects under a unified umbrella, administered by a single prime contractor.
In July 2002, the New Zealand government sent details of Project Protector to sixty shipbuilders and ship design companies, and invited submissions from interested parties. Six companies were selected from the 21 responses received by the 13 September 2002 deadline; BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
(partnering with Austal Ships and Appledore Shipbuilding), Blohm + Voss
Blohm + Voss
Blohm + Voss , is a German shipbuilding and engineering works. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; there were plans to sell 80% of Blohm + Voss to Abu Dhabi Mar Group, but talks collapsed in July 2011.-History:It was founded on April 5, 1877, by Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss as a...
, DSA (a collaboration between Damen Shipyards, Schelde Shipbuilding, and Australian Defence Industries
Australian Defence Industries
Thales Australia is a primary defence contractor for the Australian Defence Force. Thales Australia is best known for its naval ship repair operations, and currently leases the Captain Cook graving dock at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, New South Wales and also leases and occupies many of the...
), Singapore Technologies Marine, Tenix Defence
Tenix Defence
Tenix Defence was Australia's largest defence contractor with core capabilities in Aerospace, Land, Marine and Electronic Systems applications. BAE Systems announced its intention to acquire the company from Tenix in January 2008 and the acquisition was completed in June 2008 for A$775 million...
, and Vosper Thornycroft Shipbuilding. On 26 May 2003, these six were invited to submit more detailed proposals, and were given until 31 October 2003 to respond.
Evaluation was predicted to be completed by early 2004, with a contract awarded by mid 2004. Tenix Defense was identified as the best supplier in April 2004, and the contract between the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence is the arm of the New Zealand Government charged with providing advice on defence matters, as well as providing civilian administration and oversight over the New Zealand Defence Force....
and Tenix was signed on 29 July 2004. The project was predicted in 2003 to cost NZ$500 million. Project Protector is the most complex project ever undertaken by New Zealand, with three ship classes (plus embarked small craft) under construction across three nations. All three ships were to be built to commercial standards, and maintained like commercial vessels. In order to operate the new ships, the RNZN had to recruit and train an additional 245 personnel.
All seven ships were planned to enter service across 2007. However, by August 2008, only sealift ship had entered service, and that had occurred six months behind schedule. The entry into service date for the six patrol boats was pushed back to the end of 2008. Further delays meant that the last Project Protector vessel did not enter service until mid-2010. In early 2010, the RNZN received and NZ$86.4 million settlement from BAE Systems Australia
BAE Systems Australia
BAE Systems Australia, a subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, is the largest defence contractor in Australia. It was formed by the merger of British Aerospace Australia and GEC-Marconi Systems and expanded by the acquisitions of Armor Holdings in 2007 and Tenix Defence in June 2008.-History:BAE Systems'...
(which had acquired Tenix in 2008) as compensation for the delayed entry-into-service dates of the seven ships, along with defects in the sealift ship design, problems including a 100-ton displacement increase in the offshore patrol vessels, and other issues across the project.
Sealift ship
Project Protector called for a multi-role vessel with a tactical sealift capability, which would be used throughout the South Pacific region for disaster and humanitarian relief, peace support, military support, and development assistance support. The vessel would also serve as the RNZN's primary at-sea training ship after the frigate Canterbury was decommissioned. A limited patrol and response capability was also desired. The RNZN had previously tried to establish a sealift capability with the acquisition of in the mid-1990s, but attempts to convert the former roll-on/roll-off ferry were unsuccessful, and the ship was decommissioned in 2001.The ship had to be available for 160 days at sea per year, plus another 130 days berthed but available for deployment. She had to be capable of transporting a New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
heavy company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
and its equipment (identified in the initial proposal as 250 personnel, 315 lane metres of vehicles, and 33 TEU
TEU
TEU may refer to:* Twenty-foot equivalent unit, a measure used for capacity in container transportation* Treaty on European Union, formal name of the Maastricht Treaty on the creation of the euro...
of equipment and stores), and be able to transfer the personnel and equipment between the ship and shore. The vessel had to embark and operate one SH-2G Super Seasprite
SH-2G Super Seasprite
The Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite is a ship-based helicopter with anti-submarine, anti-surface threat capability, including over-the-horizon targeting. This aircraft extends and increases shipboard sensor and weapon capabilities against several types of enemy threats, including submarines of all...
, and be fitted with aviation facilities capable of operating two Cougar-size helicopters or one Chinook-size helicopter. Although the review called for the ship to be armed with a 40 millimetre gun, the 2003 request for proposals stipulated a 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) gun; this would help keep the project within the NZ$500 million budget, and provide ammunition commonality with the M242 Bushmaster
M242 Bushmaster
The M242 Bushmaster is a 25 mm chain-fed autocannon. It is used extensively by the US armed forces, as well as by NATO's and some other nations' forces in ground combat vehicles and watercraft...
fitted to the Army's LAV III
LAV III
The LAV III armoured vehicle is the latest in the Generation III Light Armoured Vehicle series built by General Dynamics Land Systems, entering service in 1999. It is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8....
infantry fighting vehicle.
The multi-role vessel was the first ship completed under Project Protector. Based on , a commercial roll-on/roll-off ferry, Canterbury has a displacement of 8000 tonnes (7,873.6 LT), a top speed of 19 knots (10.3 m/s), and a range of 6000 nautical miles (11,112 km). The vessel is capable of transporting 250 troops, up to 40 vehicles in 403 lane metres of space, 33 ISO 20-foot containers
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
(including eight dedicated ammunition containers) and 20 NATO pallets of supplies. Loading is performed wharfside through stern and side access ramps, or via two 60 tonnes (59.1 LT) cranes. Two 23 metres (75.5 ft) landing craft medium (LCM) are carried by Canterbury for situations where wharf unloading is unavailable; these can be launched and recovered via the cranes, while "marriage blocks" and "flippers" help the LCMs dock with the stern ramp. One Super Seasprite and up to four NHIndustries NH90 helicopters can be hangared aboard. The ship is fitted with a single 25 mm Bushmaster gun in a Typhoon mounting
Typhoon Weapon System
The Typhoon is a type of remote weapon station manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel, and it shares similar design principles and common technologies with Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station , a land-based system manufactured by the same developer...
and two 12.7 mm machine guns for self defence. Canterburys hull is strengthened to Finnish-Swedish ice class
Finnish-Swedish ice class
The Finnish-Swedish ice class is an ice class assigned to a vessel operating in first-year ice in the Baltic Sea and calling Finnish or Swedish ports...
1C, allowing her to operate in the Ross Dependency
Ross Dependency
The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south...
.
The ship was built by the Merdwe Shipyard in Rotterdam, with steel cutting starting on 15 April 2005. Launched in February 2006, and commenced sea trials in July. Handover to Tenix was expected to occur in August; the vessel would then sail to the Tenix shipyard at Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
, Australia for fitting of military equipment. It was originally planned to have Canterbury commissioned into the RNZN during January 2007, but delays meant that the ship did not enter service until June 2007. Problems were encountered early in the ship's career, relating primarily to the RHIB alcove docks, which were in a position to be easily swamped, with resulting damage to the boats themselves. Seakeeping ability was also an issue. Most of the problems stemmed from the ship's parent design, a short, fat civilian ferry designed to operate in the calm Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, not on military deployments in deep ocean, and the failure of Tenix and the RNZN to address this during design and construction. A remedial program was initiated in 2008.
OPV
Up until the reviews, offshore patrol of the nation's EEZ had been undertaken by the Anzac class frigates, which were both too few in number and overqualified for the duties; deploying them in this manner meant they were unavailable for more suitable operations. A new class of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) was planned; these had to be capable of providing 420 ship-days per year of EEZ operations, and able to operate a Super Seasprite helicopter.Two offshore patrol vessels, Wellington and Otago, were built by Tenix at Williamstown from hull modules fabricated at Williamstown and superstructure modules assembled at Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
, North Island, then shipped to Australia. The 1740 tonnes (1,712.5 LT) displacement, 85 metres (278.9 ft) long vessels were based on an Aker Marine design operated by the Irish Naval Service
Irish Naval Service
The Naval Service is the navy of Ireland and is one of the three standing branches of the Irish Defence Forces. Its main base is in Haulbowline, County Cork....
. The ships were fitted with an MSI-Defence Systems 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) gun as main armament, and could embark and operate a helicopter. The patrol vessels' hulls were strengthened to Finnish-Swedish ice class
Finnish-Swedish ice class
The Finnish-Swedish ice class is an ice class assigned to a vessel operating in first-year ice in the Baltic Sea and calling Finnish or Swedish ports...
1C for operations in the Ross Dependency
Ross Dependency
The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south...
.
Work started on 22 February 2005. The OPVs were due to complete in April and October 2007. However, the ships were not launched until November 2006 and October 2007 respectively, and by December 2008 were yet to commission. The main problems were safety issues with the RHIBs and an extra 100 tons of weight over the design specifications. Wellington did not commission until May 2010; the last Project Protector ship to enter service.
IPV
Several inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) were required for surveillance and patrol work in New Zealand's inshore zone (defined as up to 24 nautical miles (44.4 km) from the shoreline). A minimum of 950 ship-days was required for these duties. It was initially thought that the IPV requirement could be met by modernising four of the Moa class patrol boatsMoa class patrol boat
The Moa-class patrol boat is a class of patrol boats built between 1978 and 1985 for the Royal New Zealand Navy by the Whangarei Engineering and Construction Company...
. They could not be updated to the standard required by the Maritime Forces Review, so new ships were instead ordered to replace them on a one-for-one basis.
The IPVs were based on a 56 metres (183.7 ft) search-and-rescue vessel class built by Tenix for the Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines....
. The vessels had a 340-ton displacement, and were 55 metres (180.4 ft) long. They were only fitted with 12.7 mm machine guns instead of the 25 mm guns fitted to the other Project Protector ships. The four vessels built at Tenix shipyard in Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
, North Island. On the launch of the first IPV, , was launched in July 2007, and during sea trials exceeded several design expectations: her maximum speed of 25 knots (13.6 m/s) was a knot higher than expected, she was capable of double her 3000 nautical miles (5,556 km) designed range, and she had better seakeeping ability in heavy conditions than first thought. The last ship, was launched in August 2008. After the final patrol boat was completed, Tenix ceased operations at the Whangarei facility. Although there were some problems with the vessels, all four entered service during 2009.