Wellington Police District is delighted that a new police maritime patrol and rescue launch will be built to replace the aging Lady Elizabeth III.
Superintendent Pieri Munro, Wellington District Commander, said the announcement by Police Minister Judith Collins is excellent news for Wellington District police, the dedicated maritime unit staff, and everyone associated with border protection and maritime safety in the wider Wellington, Cook Strait and Marlborough/Tasman regions.
"Lady Elizabeth III and her crew provide an invaluable service in our waters," he said. "The lives of hundreds of people have been saved over the years by the timely arrival of Lizzie and her predecessors in often very turbulent seas.
"The new boat will enhance our border protection, patrol and investigation capability we undertake with other government agencies, as well as saving the lives of those in distress at sea."
Senior Sergeant John Bryant, head of the Wellington Police Maritime Unit, said he and his staff are rapt the launch will be replaced. The news will also be welcomed by other partner agencies including Customs, Fisheries, port authorities, shipping operators, search and rescue and the boating public.
"Lizzie has done a fantastic job since she went into service 20 years ago," Senior Sergeant Bryant said. "We're over the moon that she will be replaced and that a new police maritime protection and response will operate out of Wellington."
The new $3.5 million launch, funded within national police baseline, will have the same generic design as Deodar III in Auckland with some modifications for local conditions around heavy weather seakeeping and towing. Q West Boatbuilders is expected to start work in July this year with sea trials and a launch date 12 months away.
Lady Elizabeth III was purpose built in Nelson after her predecessor foundered with the loss of two lives in heavy seas at the entrance to Wellington Harbour on 2 July 1989. Two other police crew members were plucked to safety.
The current boat was designed for a maximum working life of 20 years, and is rapidly reaching the end of her service.
"She's had more than 13,700 hours of operational work, some refits and technical upgrades along the way but is no longer up to supporting the extended patrol deployments and operational requirements we undertake," Senior Sergeant Bryant said.
"We're ecstatic that we'll be getting a new boat and will be doing everything we can to keep Lizzie going until her replacement arrives.
"Policing doesn't stop at the high tide mark. Criminal offending takes place off the shores and this new boat will give us the continued patrol and rescue capability we need.
"Lady Elizabeth IV will continue a long and proud police maritime tradition in the Wellington region. It's a name that the Wellington public readily identifies with."
Design specifications for the new boat include:
• length 18.5m aluminium adjustable foil assisted catamaran • beam 6.9m • berths 8 • draught 750mm • hull 4-8mm aluminum plate • structural 4 - 14mm and all extrude hull stiffeners Alcan Marine Sealium • engines 2 x 8V2000 M92 MTU diesels • power 2 x 810kw or 1085bhp at 2450 rpm • drive 2 x Hamilton Jet 403 units with Blue arrow control system • speed 30 knots at 62 percent power • range 15 hours at service speed/450 nautical miles
The replacement boat is the ninth to provide a maritime policing function in Wellington.
Earlier boats were:
1. Antipodes, a 34ft pleasure launch used for a short time in 1941. One crewmember described her excessive roll as "the nearest thing to perpetual motion".
2. Lady Elizabeth, a 39ft 6in cabin cruiser built for Blenheim man Fred Musgrove for family use. He named it after his favourite grandmother. It was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence under the Wartime Shipping Requisitioning Emergency Regulations 1938 and put into Wellington police service on 6 September 1941. Withdrawn as no longer seaworthy in 1971.
3. Tuna, a harbour board boat used on loan for a short time until she was badly damaged on piloting duties in July 1971.
4. Kaikoura, 35ft long and powered by a 100hp engine capable of 10 knots was hired by police in August 1971. She was restricted to harbour use only.
5. Lady Elizabeth II - construction began in early 1972 and the 49ft 6in triple skin diagonally planked kauri boat with fibreglass cover entered service in March 1973. Powered by twin V8 diesels and capable of 18 knots she was equipped for rescues in Cook Strait. She and her crew were linked to many major search and rescue operations until tragedy struck on 2 July 1986 when the Liz was overwhelmed by surging seas at the harbour entrance. Two of the four crew on board were saved.
6. Ohorere, a 55ft boat on loan from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
7. Kotare, a 27ft, replaced Ohorere.
8. Lady Elizabeth III, 57ft long, 500hp GMV8 motor, capable of 22 knots. Self righting capability. Designed by an Upper Hutt naval architect, built in Nelson and entered service in Wellington on 23 December 1989.
Ends
Media contacts:
Senior Sergeant John Bryant, O/C Wellington Police Maritime Unit,
tel: 04 472 0152
Kaye Calder, Wellington Police District communications manager,
tel: 04 474 9464