New Zealand’s new fleet support replenishment vessel launched in South Korea

The future HMNZS Aotearoa as it was launched at HHI's yard in Ulsan, South Korea. Photo c/o HHI.

The brand new fleet replenishment vessel built for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), the future HMNZS Aotearoa was launched on 24 April 2019 in South Korea.

The ship was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in their naval shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

The ship will continue dockside fit-out works and is expected to be delivered to the RNZN by 2020. 

The future HMNZS Aotearoa is 173 meters long and is to be the largest vessel operated by the RNZN. Aside from supporting the RNZN fleet, it will be capable of operations in the Antarctic to support New Zealand’s Antarctic bases. 

The ship was ordered under a US$323 million contract signed in 2016 as part of New Zealand’s Maritime Sustainment Capability programme to replace the ageing fleet replenishment tanker HMNZS Endeavour.



[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] Yonhap News