KEY POINTS:
The Navy's newest ship may get doors over the alcoves where its rigid hulled inflatable boats are stored, to stop them being swept away in big seas.
The Navy lost one of its rigid hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) in July when the new multi-role ship HMNZS Canterbury was
hit by a large wave in the Bay of Plenty.
The boat, believed to be worth more than $200,000, was swept north and washed ashore on Great Barrier Island several days later. It was a write-off.
The Canterbury had two RHIBs, which are stored and launched from alcoves on either side of the ship close to the waterline.
Defence Minister Phil Goff said yesterday the ship's design and construction were being reviewed after the inflatable was lost and a crew member drowned in October when a RHIB capsized as it was being launched.
Other issues also included the ship's ability in big seas and its ability to do the missions for which it was bought, including patrols to the Southern Ocean.
Mr Goff said the Navy was looking at installing doors over the alcove to stop large waves ripping the boats out.
Last June, when the ship was commissioned in Melbourne, the NZPA asked the Navy if the inflatable boats were safe and secure in their alcoves on either side of the ship.
The agency asked if the design of the alcoves just a few metres above the waterline meant a large wave could crash into the alcove and sweep the boats away.
The Navy issued an assurance that the boats were secure.
Mr Goff said if the Canterbury was to go to the Southern Ocean, the design of the RHIB alcove needed attention and would be resolved before the ship went into heavy seas that could cause the loss of another RHIB.
"The option they are looking at ... is one of having sliding doors that would close off the RHIB alcove."
However, he told National Radio yesterday that the challenge was having the boats available to be launched at a moment's notice for emergencies such as a man overboard.
"Therefore, they have to get a design which both protects the alcove but does not slow down the process of launching the boat."
Mr Goff said said New Zealand Defence was working through the issue with the ship's builders, Tenix, under the ship's warranty.
"It is not an issue that will prevent in the medium-term the operation of this ship in some of the most demanding waters in the world, that is the Southern Ocean."
The minister said he was concerned that the ship had a "design flaw" in the RHIB alcove when it went into service.
- NZPA
