Babcock progresses work on New Zealand navy vessels

Babcock Australasia is advancing reactivation work on HMNZS Otago to bring the vessel back to operational service. The vessel has been out of service since 2022. (RNZN)

Babcock Australasia is advancing reactivation and maintenance work on two Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessels, the company has announced.

In statements in late October, Babcock Australasia said it had started work to reactivate HMNZS Otago, the first of two RNZN Otago-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and supported the completion of the service's sole Aotearoa-class replenishment vessel, HMNZS Aotearoa.

Babcock said that reactivation work on Otago has officially started following a request by the RNZN in October 2024 to return the vessel back to service following several years of non-operational status. The company aims to hand over Otago to the RNZN for service in early 2026.

“Critical reactivation work on HMNZS Otago has officially begun, with the company starting vital maintenance on the ship in recent weeks,” Babcock said.

It added, “The ship was placed in a care and custody arrangement for a number of years, and in late 2024, the [RNZN] asked Babcock to assess what would be required to reactivate the ship for operational service.”

According to Babcock, it has delivered a “rapid assessment and development plan” and partnered with RNZN personnel to transition the vessel from “extended readiness to operational service”.

“Babcock will work with personnel from the RNZN to form an integrated team to deliver the material reactivation of HMNZS Otago,” it added.

Reactivation work constitutes a “significant engineering” of systems and equipment including the replacement of obsolete systems; overhaul of engines and generators; and upgrades to navigation, sensors, and control systems, Babcock said.

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