HMNZS Rotoiti (2007)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 New Zealand | |
| Name | HMNZS Rotoiti |
| Namesake | Lake Rotoiti |
| Builder | Tenix Defence, Whangārei |
| Commissioned | 17 April 2009 [1] |
| Stricken | 17 October 2019 |
| Identification |
|
 Ireland | |
| Name | LÉ Aoibhinn |
| Cost | €13 million (2022) |
| Acquired | 13 March 2022 |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Lake-class inshore patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 340 t (335 long tons) loaded |
| Length | 55 m (180 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 9 m (29 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 rigid inflatable boats |
| Complement | 20 (+2) Navy, 4 Govt. agency officers, 12 additional personnel |
| Armament | 3 × 12.75 mm machine guns, two either side of the funnel and one in reserve. (Two weapons are currently in non operational restoration condition |
HMNZS Rotoiti was a Lake-class inshore patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Previously used for border and fishery protection patrols in New Zealand, Rotoiti was decommissioned in 2019. Together with its sister Pukaki, the vessel was sold to Ireland for use by the Irish Naval Service in 2022. Rotoiti was renamed and commissioned into Irish service, as LÉ Aoibhinn, in September 2024.
New Zealand service
[edit]The vessel was fitted out in Whangārei and on 20 November 2007 started contractor sea trials. After delays due to problems with gear and fittings, she was commissioned on 17 April 2009,[1] and arrived at the Devonport Naval Base for the first time on 24 April 2009. HMNZS Rotoiti was the first of her class to be commissioned in the Royal New Zealand Navy. Rotoiti was the third boat of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and named after Lake Rotoiti.
Rotoiti was decommissioned at Devonport Naval Base on 17 October 2019. Regulatory changes in 2012 resulted in operating restrictions around speed and sea states being imposed on them. Subsequently, the RNZN assessed them as no longer being suited to the heavy seas typically encountered off New Zealand and further afield, for which Protector-class offshore patrol vessels were more suited.[2]
Irish service
[edit]In 2022, Rotoiti, along with her sister Pukaki, was sold to Ireland for use by the Irish Naval Service.[3] The two vessels arrived in Ireland in May 2023.[4] Rotoiti was commissioned into Irish service, as LÉ Aoibhinn,[5] in September 2024.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Navy adds another new ship to its fleet". New Zealand Herald. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
- ^ "New Zealand Navy retires two inshore patrol vessels". navaltoday.com. 17 October 2019.
- ^ Laffan, Rebecca (13 March 2022). "Government purchases two inshore patrol vessels from New Zealand in €26m investment". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ O'Connor, Niall (13 May 2023). "Two new Irish Naval vessels to arrive into Cork Harbour tomorrow". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "Naval Vessel - Cork City Council - LÉ Aoibhinn". corkcity.ie. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ O'Riordan, Sean (5 September 2024). "Navy's new inshore patrol vessels, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait, commissioned". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to IMO 9368493 at Wikimedia Commons- Vessel web page on navy.mil.nz (archived 2020)
| Active fleet |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Decommissioned | ||
 | This article about a specific naval ship or boat is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |