Construction issues with the offshore patrol vessel, Otago, have resulted in a six-month delay in its commissioning with the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Expected to be completed by the end of 2007, the 1600-tonne Otago would not be commissioned by the navy before July, Ministry of Defence spokesman Chris Seed said.
The Otago's results were being assessed by Tenix, the Ministry of Defence and the navy after a series of sea trials by Australian contractor Tenix Defence Pty Ltd.
‘‘The outcome of those discussions will determine the delivery date,'' Mr Seed said.
A change of the insulation material and an issue identified with one of its engines had caused the delay as the vessel awaited final fit-out in Williamstown, near Melbourne.
There are also delays with other vessels under construction by Tenix as part of the Ministry of Defence's Project Protector.
Rotoiti, Wellington, Hawea, Pukaki and Taupo are undergoing changes in insulation, and ‘‘some design modifications were necessary to the bridge and bridge equipment room in the inshore patrol vessels''.
Penalty clauses might be applied by the ministry to Tenix in the event of late delivery of the vessels, Mr Seed said.
In January, Tenix sold its defence business to BAE Systems Australia (British Aerospace), but the sale had not resulted in the time delay, he said.
‘‘We are happy with the way the project has progressed and the service we have got from the contractor, given the complexity of the project.''
Following the delivery of Otago to the ministry, the navy would begin commissioning the vessel, expected to be as late as July, he said.
Dunedin resident naval officer Lieutenant-commander Phil Bradshaw said the Otago was initially expected to arrive at its home port in mid to late 2007.
‘‘I think it will now be in July but it is still very much up in the air. Big projects like this don't always go according to plan.''
