9. New Zealand Navy—Dive and Hydrographic Vessel ProcurementMARK PATTERSON (NZ First) to the Minister of DefenceNew Zealand Navy—Dive and Hydrographic Vessel Procurement9. MARK PATTERSON (NZ First) to the Minister of Defence: What progress if any has been made regarding the procurement of a dive and hydrographic vessel for the Navy?Hon RON MARK (Minister of Defence): During the recess period I announced the procurement of a Norwegian dive and hydrographic vessel MV Edda Fonn at a total cost of $103 million including military modifications. The ship replaces two vessels decommissioned—SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. Look Mr Robertson can I say that indicating with any number of fingers in that way is disorderly. But what I am going to say to both yourself and the Hon Gerry Brownlee is that if you want to have a private conversation about previous Governments have one but some people are interested in this answer.Hon RON MARK: As I was saying at a total cost of $103 million including military modifications this ship seen here replaces two vessels decommissioned in 2012 and 2018 and will provide the navy with the ability to conduct a range of specialist diving and hydrographic tasks in support of our community our nation and the world—and there you go. [Minister shows pictures of vessel]SPEAKER: Right. Put that away thank you.Mark Patterson: What type of task will this vessel undertake?Hon RON MARK: The types of tasks this vessel is likely to undertake include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR); underwater search and rescue such as unfortunately often is the case jointly with police; surveying the seabed following natural disasters such as was done with the Manawanui in Kaikōura and Lyttelton post the two big earthquakes; supporting larger ships to disembark equipment and personnel—again very useful in HADR operations—and removing unexploded historical ordnance such as we've done in the Solomon Islands. It will also be there and available to assist with scientific research.Mark Patterson: How is this vessel superior to the two ships it replaced?Hon RON MARK: This vessel is far superior; in fact in one of the graphics that I didn't bring along we can show that with the size and scale at 85 metres long nearly 3000 tonnes total load of 5700 tonnes you could actually fit the old Manawanui on the back of the deck of this one. This ship replaces the Manawanui and the Resolution. Some of the enhanced capabilities include a 100-tonne salvage crane; remotely operated vehicles; a contemporary dynamic positioning system which enables them under severe sea states to maintain total stability—very important when putting divers down and when doing scientific research. It is an extremely effective vessel and the lily pad on the front will enable us to land all of our helicopters: the A109 the NH90 and Seasprites in sea states up to 3 which is very good.Mark Patterson: When will the vessel enter service and what will it be named?Hon RON MARK: This vessel which has been warmly welcomed by the navy in Devonport will enter service—we anticipate it will be here in New Zealand in May next year for its second fit once we take possession and it will go into dock. The owners will conduct the first tranche of modifications. It'll come into New Zealand in May and the second tranche of modifications will be done with the assistance of local defence industry. We're hoping to have it actually totally completely in service in November next year but it will be available on a phased basis for operations prior to that.