HMNZS Pukaki (2008) explained

HMNZS Pukaki is a Lake-class inshore patrol vessel inshore patrol boat of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Pukaki was launched in Whangarei Harbour on 6 May 2008. Its primary duties included border and fisheries protection patrols, surveillance, boarding operations and search and rescue response.

Pukaki was the third ship of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after Lake Pukaki.

Pukaki was decommissioned at Devonport Naval Base on 17 October 2019. Regulatory changes in 2012 resulted in operating restrictions around speed and sea states being imposed on them. Subsequently the RNZN assessed them as no longer being suited to the heavy seas typically encountered off New Zealand and further afield.^[1]

In 2022, Pukaki, along with her sister, was sold to Ireland for use by the Irish Naval Service.^[2] Both ships were purchased by Irish Department of Defence for €26m and transported by the heavy lift transport ship Happy Dynamic. Arriving in Ireland in May 2023,^[3] they were delivered to the Irish naval base at Haulbowline in Cork Harbour where they are due to undergo a refit before being used primarily for fishery protection patrols on Ireland's east coast.

See also

• Patrol boats of the Royal New Zealand Navy

External links

• Official RNZN Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: New Zealand Navy retires two inshore patrol vessels. Naval Today. 17 October 2019 . en-US. 2019-10-17.
2. Web site: Government purchases two inshore patrol vessels from New Zealand in €26m investment . Laffan . Rebecca . 13 March 2022 . Irish Examiner . 16 March 2022 .
3. Web site: Two new Irish Naval vessels to arrive into Cork Harbour tomorrow. 13 May 2023.