HMNZS Kahu
In accordance with tradition KAHU entered Auckland Harbour flying a 12 m long Paying-off Pennant from the mainmast, with ship's company fallen in on the upper deck in Procedure Alpha. HMNZS KAHU sailed from Devonport for her final voyage under the NZ White Ensign on 28 September 2009.
HMNZS Kahu was built by Whangarei Engineering & Construction Ltd (WECO). The keel was laid 8 December 1978; completed 23 May 1979. Commissioned as HMNZ Diving Tender MANAWANUI, Pennant No. A09, she began her service on 28 May 1979 and operated as a support vessel for the RNZN's diving teams in a variety of under water tasks. Most took place in the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty areas but one highlight was the exploration and salvage work on the sunken Soviet passenger liner MIKHAIL LERMONTOV in Port Gore, Marlborough Sounds, in March 1986.
In March 1988 the RNZN purchased a larger Diving Support Ship, which was commissioned as HMNZS MANAWANUI (also taking the pennant number A09). The smaller diving tender re-commissioned as HMNZS KAHU (Pennant No. A04) on 17 May 1988. From 1988 KAHU has operated as the navigation and seamanship training vessel, provided support the RNZN Diving School, and conducted operations with Government agencies, Fisheries, Customs, Police and DOC.
At the time of her decommissioning, KAHU had motored 192,232 nautical miles (the equivalent of sailing around the world 7½ times) and been underway for 22,411 hours. The underway hours do not reflect the many additional hours KAHU spent at anchor, supporting diving training and multi-agency operations.
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