The Royal New Zealand Navy's new offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Otago will make its debut at a home port when it visits Dunedin next month, and the navy hopes the people of Otago will turn out for the occasion.
HMNZS Otago is the sixth of seven new navy ships, which make up the navy's protector fleet.
The $90 million ship is the first naval vessel associated with the province to enter service since the previous Otago made its first home port visit to Dunedin 50 years ago.
HMNZS Otago will berth at the Birch St wharf in Dunedin at 10am on July 22.
A formal welcome and VIP tour, as well as a charter parade through the city, followed by a ceremony in which the ship's company will be given the freedom of the city, and an open day for the public, are planned to mark the ship's arrival.
Otago was launched in 2006 by Dame Silvia Cartwright and, after delays caused by issues concerning the ship not meeting contract specifications, was accepted into service in February this year.
Sister ship HMNZS Wellington was accepted into service in April.
The navy says a slight overweight issue will not stop the ships from patrolling in Antarctic waters.
Patrols will begin next year, after training is complete.
The vessel is based on a design already in service with the Irish Navy and Mauritius Coastguard.
Its main roles will be maritime patrol, surveillance and response, primarily non-military in support of civilian agencies, and will involve specialist staff from government agencies such as New Zealand Customs and the Ministry of Fisheries.
Dunedin's resident naval officer, Lieutenant-commander Ian Marshall, said the ship meant a lot to Dunedin, the navy and the country.
"It is very exciting to have these ships here now.
We want everybody to get out and support Otago.
At the end of the day, she's your ship, and the last time we had one of those here was 50 years ago."
Otago is a new class of ship for the New Zealand navy.
It is the same height as a frigate but, at 85m-long and displacing 1900 tonnes, is much shorter and requires a crew of only 35 sailors.
The vessel is the second ship to bear the name.
The first was a modified Rothesay class frigate that served between 1960 and 1983.
Otago will spend five days in port in Dunedin, before sailing to its other home port, Bluff, where it will spend three days.
Now that all seven Project Protector vessels were in service, Dunedin and Bluff could anticipate a more regular navy presence in port, particularly from the four new inshore patrol vessels, expected to be patrolling up to 290 days a year, Lt-cmdr Marshall said.
