A frigate that served the nation for 34 years was towed into the Bay of Islands to a rousing welcome yesterday - its last journey before being stripped and sunk as an artificial reef and dive attraction.
The Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust beat many other bidders around the country to bring the former Navy ship north, and believes it will bring the region millions in tourism earnings.
The 3000-tonne frigate was towed for 24 hours from Devonport naval base in Auckland, arriving at Opua around noon yesterday escorted by a flotilla of small craft.
Trust members boarded the ship soon after it rounded Cape Brett.
Students from Waikare and Opua primary schools performed during a welcoming ceremony at the wharf which brought together local iwi, trust representatives, members of the Far North District Council and about 100 members of the public.
Some of them - like Paihia musician Phil White, who was on board as a marine engineer in 1977 when it sailed to England for the Queen's silver jubilee celebrations - came to see the ship one last time.
Spokesman Kelly Weeds said it was an emotional moment for the trust's handful of members, because they had achieved so much with so little.
"It was fantastic to see so many people who finally believe the sinking's going to happen."
The trust believes the wreck will generate $20 million in tourism earnings "within a couple of years".
Far North Mayor Yvonne Sharp, who co-signed a letter delivered to the Navy about eight years ago in a bid to secure the Canterbury, could hardy believe it was in port at last. She said the ship brought great hopes for the future of the Bay of Islands.
The 113-metre Leander-class frigate, the Navy's last steam ship, was built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1970. It was commissioned in 1971 and has served around the world - including leading an official protest against French nuclear bombings at Mururoa Atoll in 1973. It also served in the Indian Ocean, relieving the British Navy during the Falklands War.
Once stripped, the frigate will be sunk in 30 metres of water at Deep Water Cove in August.
The discovery of sea squirts, an invasive pest, on its hull delayed its trip to the Bay of Islands, as did initial objections from the Department of Conservation.
• The public will have access to the ship next weekend, with tours of the upper deck costing a gold coin donation. The trust needs to raise $250,000 to cover its costs. * Former crew eye bunks Nostalgia may help the frigate Canterbury's new owner raise more than $250,000 as it strips the vessel and sells the parts.
Some of the Canterbury's former crew have already contacted the Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust hoping to buy their old bunks.
Trust finance manager Ian Morrison said the first job would be recovering copper - which would fetch a good price - from the ship's generators and other electrical equipment.
The trust would hire 18 hapu members, mainly from Rawhiti, to help strip the frigate before it is sunk at Deep Water Cove.
One anchor would stay on the ship while the second would be recovered from the seabed after about a year.
The propellers were removed while the frigate was in dry dock in Auckland, to make towing to Opua easier.
"We've yet to decide what to do with them - their scrap value alone is $30,000.
"The other items will be sold on the open market, and sailors who're interested in mementos can contact us."
The ship's superstructure, mast, funnel and radar would be removed to keep boaties safe.
Mr Morrison said the trust had six to eight months to complete stripping the vessel.
The Trust racked up a whopping $100,000 bill when it had to clean the ship's hull and tow it to Opua.Imran Ali
She's here ... at last
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.