In response to the oil spill caused by the grounding of the container ship Rena on the Astrolabe Reef in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, Auckland Council recognized the importance of enhancing Auckland's readiness to respond to similar incidents. Consequently, they initiated the acquisition of a new vessel for this purpose.

During the initial planning stages, it became evident that oil spills are fortunately rare occurrences. Therefore, it made practical sense to design a versatile vessel capable of performing various tasks in support of Auckland's bustling harbor operations. Auckland Council issued a request for proposal to design and construct a multi-functional vessel. This vessel needed to meet several requirements, including servicing the entire Auckland Inshore Limits under varying weather conditions, carrying and deploying specialized oil recovery and dispersal equipment, recovering debris from the water, towing distressed vessels to safety, transporting vehicles to Hauraki Gulf islands, supporting Police dive teams, maintaining harbor and Hauraki Gulf infrastructure, and being transportable by road to Manukau Harbour and other regional locations.

The resulting vessel, known as HM5, was meticulously crafted to be a straightforward, low-maintenance vessel with minimal onboard amenities. It's powered by outboard engines and designed to be operated by a diverse crew, even during high-pressure situations.

HM5 is an exceptionally sturdy and well-constructed vessel, purpose-designed down to the smallest detail to meet the specific needs of the customer. Featuring a relatively deep V-hull form and substantial overall displacement, it boasts exceptional seaworthiness, instilling confidence in the Harbor Master's team to respond to emergencies. A manually operated folding bow door ensures vehicle access without compromising the vessel's reliability and easy maintenance goals. Additionally, a high-capacity hydraulic crane, driven by a diesel power pack, allows for independent loading and unloading from other vessels or the shore. The vessel offers a comfortable, fully enclosed wheelhouse that provides warmth and shelter for the crew, complete with a dedicated toilet compartment accessible from the aft deck.

Location: Auckland

Contact: Blair Harkness, Ph 021 245 8809