NIWA’s brand-new research vessel, Kaharoa II, was officially traditionally christened by Minister Judith Collins with a bottle of champagne.
The state-of-the-art vessel arrived in Wellington after spending 83 days sailing from Astilleros Armon shipyard in northern Spain, where it was built.
Kaharoa II has replaced its predecessor, Kaharoa, which was more than 40 years old and nearing the end of its working life.
From the start, the vessel’s maiden voyage was globally significant. Ocean monitoring floats were deployed across the Atlantic and in a comprehensive pattern across the western Pacific to New Zealand.
NIWA Chief Executive John Morgan said Kaharoa II will help meet New Zealand’s fisheries, oceanography, and maritime research needs.
“As an island nation, we have a strong cultural, environmental, and economic connection to the ocean, with NIWA’s work playing a key role in understanding and managing it,” said Morgan.
“This new vessel represents a significant investment in essential New Zealand science capability and underpins our strengths in ocean science. It will support cost-effective, safe, and more environmentally friendly research of the highest quality.”
Kaharoa II was designed by the Norwegian naval architect Skipsteknisk, a specialist in research and fisheries vessels.
NIWA Manager, Marine Resources and Project Director Rob Christie said the team in Spain was highly professional and worked hard to satisfy NIWA’s exacting standards.
“Overseeing the construction of a new research vessel is a rare privilege. The trick is to have an extensive support network, a knowledgeable team, and governance who understand the complexity, risks, and end goal. We had all three,” said Christie.
“The designers at Skipsteknisk took great pride in their work and, with the Armon shipyard, have given us a next-generation vessel that has exceeded our expectations.”
Kaharoa II has been equipped with the latest technologies and is quieter underwater, causing less environmental disturbance. It is eight metres longer and more comfortable than its predecessor, with increased laboratory and deck space that can accommodate six crew members and up to nine scientists.
“Kaharoa II is a next-generation research vessel that will allow us to do more great science. It also has 35 days’ endurance, with a 6500 nautical mile range, meaning we can go further for longer, from inshore studies to the deep oceans,” said NIWA Chief Scientist - Fisheries Dr Richard O'Driscoll.
Kaharoa II will also deploy and maintain the New Zealand Tsunami detection network, maintain long-term fisheries surveys, and contribute to the international Argo programme, which deploys floats throughout the world’s oceans to measure water conditions for marine and atmospheric research.
Kaharoa has deployed about one-quarter of all the Argo floats globally, far more than any other vessel, and Kaharoa II will continue this legacy.
“This highly sophisticated, significantly enhanced and cost-effective research vessel will transform New Zealand’s marine research capabilities,” said Minister Judith Collins.
Kaharoa II has joined NIWA’s research vessel fleet, including the deepwater, ice-strengthened Tangaroa and the nearshore catamaran Ikatere.
Its first voyage will start in late August and involve collecting underwater imagery of the seafloor biodiversity, habitats, and fish in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
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