Opportunity To Tour HMNZS Resolution

Wellington locals will have an opportunity to see how military hydrography is carried out when HMNZS RESOLUTION lowers her gangway to the public this Saturday (18 February) from 1pm – 3pm.

The ship will be berthed alongside Queens Wharf in Wellington Harbour for the duration of the 6th International Shallow Survey Conference, at which the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Matt Wray will be speaking. The conference will see around 200 international experts hosted at Te Papa discussing high-resolution surveying in shallow water (depths of less than 30m). The conference runs from 20 – 24 February.

“The crew of RESOLUTION are very much looking forward to showing the public around our ship and allowing people to discover the ins and outs of hydrographic survey,” said Lieutenant Commander Wray.

“It will also be an honour to speak at and support the international Shallow Survey Conference, which is being hosted in New Zealand for the first time.”

HMNZS RESOLUTION was commissioned in to the RNZN in 1997 and is the Navy’s principal hydrographic and littoral warfare support ship for surveying and charting the waters in and around New Zealand and the Pacific. The work the Ship and crew do allows the production of accurate charts, which are essential for safe navigation both on the open sea and on inshore waters. RESOLUTION is set to decommission from service this April, so opportunities to view the vessel before she retires are limited.

Her contribution to the safety of vessels navigating New Zealand’s waters has been immense, which was highlighted in 2011 when she confirmed that Lyttelton and Akaroa Harbours were safe for navigation in the immediate aftermath of the devastating February Earthquake. RESOLUTION finished the year by providing navigational safety for the search for uncharted remnants of war in Simpson Harbour, Papua New Guinea; and support to the NZ High Commissioner in the Solomon Islands where a number of WWII wrecks were located.

WHAT: HMNZS RESOLUTION open to the public

WHEN: Saturday 18 February 2012, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

WHERE: Queens Wharf, Wellington Harbour