New Zealand Seeks New Littoral Support Ship

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The New Zealand Defence Force issued a request for tenders Friday for a new naval ship to support littoral operations.

Requirements for the new Royal New Zealand Navy vessel include hydrography (from the coast out to 60-100 meters in water depth), support for military diving and mine countermeasures within New Zealand's maritime zone and the South Pacific.

It is part of New Zealand's $14.6 billion defense equipment modernization plan announced in June 2016. The contract price for the LOSV is expected to be between $120 million to $131 million.

A contract for the new ship is likely to be signed in a year's time with delivery to follow in June 2020.

Given that the Navy's hydrographic ship, HMNZS Resolution, was retired in 2012 and the almost 40-year-old diving and mine countermeasures ship, HMNZS Manawanui, is to be retired in 2018 — due to reduced operational viability, systems obsolescence, support issues and reduced reliability — this will leave the Littoral Warfare Support Force without a suitable ship for at least 18 months.

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