Navy seamanship found wanting
May 23, 2008 4:04 PM
The Royal New Zealand Navy says it has to teach its sailors to be better seamen following a review of its seamanship by Royal Navy experts.
The review was sparked by the death of Byron Solomon when an inflatable boat on the HMNZS Canterbury capsized.
Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, says a number of improvements are to be introduced to training and the conduct of exercises at sea as a result of the review which was he initiated earlier in the year.
Ledson says the review identified shortcomings in the way the RNZN currently trains its personnel in seamanship.
"Being able to do seamanship the safe way and the right way is fundamental to the Navy being able to operate its ships at sea - around New Zealand and further afield," says Ledson.
He says he will soon appoint an officer who will be responsible for re-establishing seamanship as a core Navy skill and with implementing all the recommendations of the review.
The Commanding Officer of each Navy ship has been directed to review their current practices in line with the Royal Navy review and a Petty Officer Safety Course will also be developed.
Ledson says the RNZN initiated the review after a Court of Inquiry into the death of Solomon made a number of observations about seamanship.
While the observations did not contribute to the capsize incident, they did identify issues around the conduct of seamanship training, competencies and practices in the Navy, he says.
3rd April 2008
Combined ships reunion, Easter at Dunedin:
15th March 2008
Results of my research into the possible effects of Electromagnetic and Radio Frequency radiation can be seen here http://rnzn.bravehost.com/emrfr.html This will be of special interest to communicators, electronic warfare ops, radio technicians (RMs) and Radar Plotters (RPs).
8 February 2008
IPVs at Whangarei
Rotoiti's Bridge - Super Yacht finish. Pic courtesy Denis Kean
Rotoiti in foreground, Hawea tied up aft. Pic courtesy of Denis Kean
February 2008
Another Labour Govt/RNZN Faux Pas:
http://www.tv3.co.nz:80/Home/News/Display/tabid/209/articleID/45060/Default.aspx?src=email
It was bad enough that the RNZN bought a tanker to civilian standards with one prop. Then the HMNZS Charles Upham - a former merchant RO-ROFF which proved disastrous. Now we have the new HMNZS Canterbury, built to merchant ferry specs - she broaches, she nose-dives - and yet she is expected to carry out patrol duties in the Southern Oceans with no ballast in the Vehicle Deck!
Following received from Jim Blackburn:
| Medal Update - 19 Jan 08 |
| The review of South East Asia continues, and there is still some work to be done, particularly on the period between the end of the 'Emergency' to the start of the 'Confrontation'. It is hoped that a Draft of the review will appear about March 2008. The good news is that this Draft will be submitted to the RNZRSA Ceremonial, Protocol and Medallic Committee before publication. The Chairman of this committee is now Rear Admiral Ian Hunter whom a some of you will remember. |
6 January 2008
Wishing you all a prosperous New Year.
Following received:
I am the current Mataura RSA President and as the club had very little in the way of military displays I started four projects. NZSAS 1955 - 2005, Rank slides from Private to Lt General, NZ Army Trade and Brassard badges, and Corp Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Flashes in seniority. The above I have been collecting for over the last two years and they are now all framed and on loan as a display at the Mataura RSA. I have put these projects together myself as the club is not in a financial position to do so. I served in the Army from 1973 to 1992.
Because there are several ex Navy personnel in the area who are members of the club that have commented a navy display similar to the army one would be good.
We have pictures of HMNZS Southland, Otago, Canterbury, and several plaques displayed, so I have started collecting Navy Cap Tally Bands as a project, once completed these will be put in a frame starting from the oldest to the newest vessel.
If you know of any or anyone who has some to donate or sell could you please pass on my email address to them.
Regards
Peter Crake, JP
7 December 2007
Looking for information:
The son of the late CYS Holman who, among other drafts, went up to Korea with Rotoiti. He is keen to know a little more about his Dad's naval background, work etc. Anyone wishing to repond can get in touch with David Davies at ddavies@kapiti.co.nz and he will pass on any messages.
11th October
Can anyone supply information on this plate please? Please respond to Graeme Black - it may be from a Coastal Artillery battery.
Artillery plate?
Navy struggles to get enough sailors to keep ships at sea
HMNZS Te Mana has 163 crew but the Navy is struggling to get sailors.
The navy's top brass has warned the service is struggling to find enough sailors to keep its ships at sea.
Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, said some branches of the navy were already "in a very delicate position with only a few people being the difference between a ship having to stay alongside in Devonport or being able to go to sea and do its job.
"This situation is placing the navy and sailors under real strain," he said in the latest issue of the navy magazine Navy Today.
Admiral Ledson said the navy faced two big challenges this year.
The first was to keep its existing fleet of eight ships at sea.
The second was to get the seven new ships being built under the $500 million Project Protector programme to sea "and to keep them there."
The first of the seven new ships, the multi-role vessel
It had a crew of 63 but could also accommodate 35 trainees.
Admiral Ledson said the biggest challenge was getting the right people in the right places.
The navy is understood to be losing sailors at an alarming rate, possibly three or four a week.
However, Admiral Ledson said the upside of the staff shortage was the commitment of sailors to help resolve a "critical" problem.
"With sailors such as these there is no doubt that it is within our reach to be the best small-nation navy in the world." he said.
The navy's eight existing ships are:
* HMNZS Te Kaha, Anzac frigate, 3600 tonnes, 163 crew;
* HMNZS Te Mana, Anzac frigate, 3600 tonnes, 163 crew;
* HMNZS Endeavour, fleet replenishment, 12,300 tonnes (laden), 49 crew;
* HMNZS Resolution, survey ship, 2262 tonnes, 18 crew;
* HMNZS Manawanui, dive tender, 911 tonnes, 24 crew;
* HMNZS Kiwi, HMNZS Wakakura and HMNZS Kahu, inshore patrol craft, 91 tonnes, 16 crew.
The seven new Project Protector ships are:
* HMNZS
* HMNZS
* HMNZS Taupo, HMNZS Rotoiti, HMNZS Pukaki, HMNZS Hawea; inshore patrol vessels, 340 tonnes, 20 crew.
bravenet.com