The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/119485
N AV Y N E W S INTERNATIONAL NAVIES MEET In January, the Royal New Zealand Navy hosted a meeting of international navies to promote common doctrine and procedures for the coordination of shipping and maritime trade in the Pacific, Indian and South Atlantic Oceans. The Pacific and Indian Oceans Shipping Working Group meeting was held at the Devonport Naval Base, for representatives from 12 countries with international maritime trade interests in the regions. Royal New Zealand Navy Captain Phil O���Connell says, ���Regular monitoring of commercial shipping by naval forces globally has been undertaken for many years, to guard against and monitor activities such as terrorism, sea robbery and piracy���. ���Secure commercial shipping is vital for economic growth and global trade. New Zealand is the guardian for a large area of the Pacific Ocean and as such we have an important role in monitoring and maintaining our sea lines of communication, which are vital for the economic wellbeing of the Nation and our Pacific Island neighbours���. Topics discussed included counter piracy operations, information sharing protocols, developments in the technology and methodology used for monitoring, and facilitating the safe passage of maritime trade. The meeting is an annual event for members to convene with colleagues, discuss developments and to strengthen their personal and professional networks. responsibility for management of marine resources in the waters around Antarctica. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Rob McCaw, says the operation went very well: ���Otago successfully assisted CCAMLR inspectors carry out a number of boardings and inspections during our first Southern Ocean patrol to combat illegal unreported and unregulated fishing. The ship���s crew are certainly proud of the role they have played helping to safeguard this important environment.��� ���The Navy���s Offshore Patrol Vessels enable us to conduct patrols in a wide range of environments from the Southern Ocean, to the South Pacific.��� The NZ Defence Force also conducts routine Royal New Zealand Air Force P3-K Orion surveillance patrols during the season, helping to contribute to the information base on the activities of all vessels operating in the Southern Ocean. HMNZS Rotoiti moored in Pickersgill Harbour ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENTALIST HMNZS Otago successfully completed her first patrol in the Southern Ocean in December, arriving home in time for crew to spend holidays with their family and friends. HMNZS Otago is one of the Navy���s two Offshore Patrol Vessels. She conducted a two-week patrol supporting Government agencies and helping to ensure sustainable fisheries management in the Antarctic Southern Ocean. HMNZS Otago took inspectors from New Zealand���s Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources who were conducting inspections at sea and checking compliance of fishing activities. New Zealand has The Royal New Zealand Navy���s Offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Otago recently completed its first patrol in the Southern Ocean in one of the world���s most challenging environments 62 Professional Skipper March/April 2013 WHERE OTHERS HAVE GONE BEFORE By LT Kane Sutherland, CO, HMNZS Rotoiti HMNZS Rotoiti moored in Pickersgill Harbour, Dusky Sound, Fiordland for respite during a 12-day patrol along the West Coast of the South Island and in the Sounds of Fiordland. The mooring has a special historic significance as the place Captain James Cook moored his ship Resolution, on March 27, 1773. For five weeks, Cook and his crew collected wood, fresh water and set up an astronomer���s observatory to fix the longitude and latitude of the headland which is now aptly named Astronomer Point. Navigation students onboard Rotoiti went ashore and visited Astronomer Point with sextants in hand to replicate Captain Cook���s actions. The trees that Cook felled to create the observatory have since regenerated, so the taking of astronomic sights was a challenge. Rotoiti anchored in Pickersgill Harbour using the assistance of one of the ship���s boats. Four mooring lines were attached to the large sturdy trees ashore to secure Rotoiti in place. The cove where Rotoiti was positioned is naturally deep right up to the rock edge. A fresh water stream, called Cook Stream, flows into the cove. This is where Cook collected fresh water and first brewed his Spruce Beer which was flavoured with ���spruce��� (rimu) and tea tree (manuka) from the surrounding area. Today, Astronomer Point is best viewed from the sea. There is an information board at the start of the 10 minute loop walk to the observatory site, where walkers can find is a plaque commemorating Cook���s visit.