Protector class inshore patrol vessel

HMNZS Hawea, Protector-class IPV
Class overview
Name:	Protector class
Builders:	BAE Systems Australia (then Tenix Shipbuilding), Whangarei
Operators:	Royal New Zealand Navy
Preceded by:	Moa class
Cost:	NZ$35.8 million (per vessel, 2008)
Built:	2005–2008
In service:	2009–present
In commission:	2009–present
Completed:	4
Active:	4
Laid up:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Inshore patrol vessel
Displacement:	340 tonnes (loaded)
Length:	55 m (180 ft)
Beam:	9 m (30 ft)
Draught:	2.9 m (9.5 ft)
Propulsion:	Two MAN B&W 12VP185 engines, each rated at 2,500 kW (3,400 hp) at 1,907 rpm ZF 7640 NR gearboxes Two controllable pitch propellers
Speed:	Top speed 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) Patrol speed 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range:	3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi)
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 × RHIB with diesel-powered three-stage jet units
Complement:	36 (includes 4 government agency staff and up to 12 others)
Armament:	3 × 12.7 mm machine guns Small arms
Notes:

The Protector-class inshore patrol vessel (also known as the Rotoiti class and the Lake class) is a ship class of inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) which replaced the RNZN's Moa-class patrol boats in 2007–2008. All four vessels are named after New Zealand lakes.

Following long-running Navy retention problems in the wake of NZDF "civilianisation", two of the four vessels have been tied up, inactive, in a 'Reduced Activity Period' for long periods since 2013. It was announced on 14 April 2016 that some of the vessels might be sold.

Conceived as part of Project Protector, the Ministry of Defence acquisition project to acquire one multi-role vessel, two offshore and four inshore patrol vessels. The Project Protector vessels were to be operated by the RNZN to conduct tasks for and with the New Zealand Customs Service, the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Fisheries, Maritime New Zealand, and New Zealand Police. The future duties will include maritime surveillance and boarding, support to civilian agencies such as the customs service and search and rescue duties.

The ships were built in Whangarei by BAE Systems Australia (formerly Tenix Shipbuilding), and are based on a modified search and rescue vessel for the Philippine Coast Guard, with a different superstructure design. The cost for the four vessels was planned to be NZ$100 million.Friction stir welding was used in the construction of the superstructure, and Donovan Group being the first New Zealand company to use the technique, which is credited as having won them the contract for this part of the vessel's construction.