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HMNZS Endeavour Replacement

ENDEAVOUR is nearing her total life expectancy of about 25 years. Consideration is being given to her successor, which may be a very different vessel indeed. CAPT Fred Keating, Assistant Chief of Navy (Capability), confirmed that the RNZN is keen to acquire a more versatile ship when ENDEAVOUR finally is replaced. Although thinking on the matter is ‘still embryonic’ Keating says the intention, in terms of capability, ‘is not to simply go for a one-for-one replacement of ENDEAVOUR. Indeed, for reasons including fit-out, training and logistic support it is preferable to replace ENDEAVOUR with a ‘joint support’ capability, he said.

Such a ship, where possible, would have a high degree of commonality with the new Multi-Role Vessel CANTERBURY, but it would carry more fuel and have a replenishment capability, a combination that would make her more versatile all round. when the NZ Government asks for tenders on this new joint support type ship a number of shipbuilders will be at the forefront, BAE being one of them, also Royal Scheld and Merwede Shipyards of the Neatherlands, plus Hajin Heavy Industries of S Korea. Merwede designed the NZ Navy's amphibious sealift ship HMNZS Canterbury a few years back.

The concept of utilising a base platform that can be reconfigured for different roles using modules is becoming prevalent in minor warship design. These reconfigurable vessels have been designated as Multi-Role Vessels (MRVs). Incorporating different combinations of common functions into the design of a base MRV platform will have varying implications on how the base MRV will look and perform. Present concept vessels of this type utilise modularity, where modules containing the equipment to perform the vessel roles are added to/removed from the base vessel. The modular vessel concept presents an interesting design challenge, as the array of functional combinations for the base platform consists of a wide range of common function options.

If the planned Endeavour replacement goes ahead, it would not be named Wellington, since that names already in use on the second of the two Protector/Otago Class OPV already in service. It is more then likely to be named either Waikato, Southland or Taranaki, as these haven't been used yet or they transfer the name Endeavour over to its replacement, as that name has always been traditionally used for support ships in RNZN service in the past.

New Zealand is rich in naval traditions that reach back for nearly two centuries. On his first voyage to the Pacific in 1769-70 Captain Cook, RN, in HMS Endeavour, circumnavigated these islands and disproved the belief that the country was part of a fabulous Terra Australis.

HMNZS Endeavour (A11) is the current fleet oiler for the Royal New Zealand Navy. She is named after James Cook’s Bark Endeavour and is the third ship in the RNZN to carry that name.

The Defence White Paper 2016 identified Antarctica as a “focus on increasing international interest” while noting New Zealand Defence Forces “critical role” in supporting personnel in the Ross Dependency and monitoring activity in the Southern Ocean.

The Request for Tender for this project closed on 24 June 2015. Following an evaluation of the responses, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, both of Korea, have been shortlisted to provide Best and Final Offers.

HMNZS Endeavour’s $493 million replacement was announced on 18 July 2016, with the government’s approval to purchase. The tanker will be ice-strengthened for Antarctic operations, winterised, and will be the largest vessel ever operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy. Hyundai Heavy Industries won the contract, with delivery expected in 2020 (two years after Endeavour is scheduled to retire).