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Navy Survey Ship Assists in Samoa

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
Wednesday August 8, 2007
Navy Survey Ship Assists in Samoa

On the way to support the Governor Generals scheduled visit to the Tokelau Islands, the Navy’s Hydrographic and Survey Ship HMNZS RESOLUTION had a brief stopover in Apia – just long enough to drop off eleven ships personnel to assist the Samoan Red Cross Society with a variety of tasks.

Led by Lieutenant Commander William Spencer (Devonport) and Lieutenant Warren Dohnt (Te Puke), the team comprised of five hydrographic surveyors, electricians, engineers and a supply and logistics officer.

The naval party remained ashore for five days and assisted at three emergency outposts around the area. The work consisted of painting, clearing gardens, plumbing, inventory work, electrical wiring and concreting. All these tasks were done with the help of up to 50 local volunteers. One of the more memorable tasks was taking the ferry to the Red Cross outpost of Savaii; scheduled to be used for the upcoming South Pacific Games; to complete an inventory of the emergency supplies and assist with general maintenance around the buildings.

The final tasking for the naval party was to take part in an emergency response exercise with the Red Cross, Fire Service, Police and Ambulance - all practicing for the South Pacific Games. The naval party assumed the role of the “injured personnel” and their expertise and experience in the area of emergency response and first aid was called upon to help assess the performance of the up to 120 personnel involved.

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Summing up the five day working party, Lieutenant Dohnt said, “The work we achieved showed the range of skills that our young sailors have that can be implemented both at sea and ashore in a foreign environment. Although a very busy week it was an excellent opportunity for all those involved to be able to spend time making new friends and experiencing a different culture.”

Uplifting the naval party from Apia, HMNZS RESOLUTION is now on passage to Raoul Island. She is scheduled to complete the uplift of 17 Department of Conservation personnel from Raoul Island on 11 August, before returning home to the Devonport Naval Base early next week.

ENDS

Particulars of HMNZS RESOLUTION
Pennant Number - A14
Displacement - 2,262 tonnes
Length - 68.3 metres
Beam - 13.1 metres
Draught - 4.4 metres
Speed - 11 knots
Complement - 45 (Officers and Ratings)

Machinery - Diesel – electric
Range - 15,000 nautical miles
Home Port - Gisborne


ENDS

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