His Majesty Commissioned New Landing Craft Voea Late Featured
His Majesty Tupou VI on the Commission of Voea Late at Touliki Naval Basee
Nuku'alofa, 27 October 2015. To assist with disaster response activities as a landing craft, Voea Late was commissioned last Friday 23 October to His Majesty, King George Tupou VI at the Masefield Navy Base, Touliki.
Guests attended the commissioning ceremony includes Her Majesty, Queen Nanasipau’u, Royal Princess Pilolevu, members of the Royal Family, Prime Minister and members of the clergy, government officials, Diplomat Corps and invited guests.
The new landing craft Voea Late was donated by the Australian Government under the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) between the Australian Armed Forces and HMAFs.
Speaking from Australia’s Defence, Attaché Colin Pryde says that “Tongan and Australian Navy personnel worked on the design together. With the shallow draft and front loading ramp, it’s a highly versatile landing craft that can be used in places with no wharf or where the wharf has been destroyed by a natural disaster.”
The landing craft is 30.4 meters long. It has two caterpillar engines with two propellers plus the auxiliary machine that provides the electrical power to the ship. It designs to travel within a maximum of 10 days endurance with its own supplies and various fuels. The engines are designed to travel on maximum speed of 12 knots but normal cruise between 8 to 10 knots. It is equipped with; electronic navigation system, commercial ship radar and modern communication system.
The ship is crew by a minimum of six naval personnel to a maximum of 16 officers and crew in naval operation time. It has two auxiliary tanks; one tank for extra fuel of 10,000 litres and to other tanks for water of 10,000 litres. These extra fuel and water can utilize in time of natural disaster assistance or during the year where some populated islands would require such supplies or other use.
The crew have worked hard over the past month, with the landing craft put through a series of sea trials in Tonga. This has ensured all of the ship’s systems are fully functional and that the crew are adequately trained to use and maintain the systems. Tests were successfully performed on the main fire system, the loading ramp, autopilot, the anchors and boat retrieval procedures amongst others.
The AUD$8million barge is the first of its kind to be delivered under Australia’s Pacific Patrol Boat Program (PPBP). Previously under PPBP Australia has provided both the Neiafu, Savea and Pangai naval patrol vessels.
