 VOEA Savea | |
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 162 ton |
| Length | 31.5 m (103 ft 4 in) |
VOEA Savea (P203) was a Pacific Forum patrol vessel operated by the Tongan Maritime Force from 1989 to April 2019. [1] [2]
Savea was replaced in June 2019 by VOEA Ngahau Koula, which was designed and built for the Tonga Maritime Force by Australia. [3]
When the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea extended maritime nations' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to 200 kilometres (120 mi), Australia designed and built 22 patrol vessels for 12 of its fellow members of the Pacific Forum. [2] Australia provided the patrol vessel free of charge, and helped build port facilities and provide training. This allowed its neighbour to exercise sovereignty over their EEZ, intercept smugglers, and poaching fishers, and provide emergency services.
Australia replaced Savea and her two sister ships with two slightly larger and more capable vessels between 2019 and 2020. [4]
The 31.5-metre (103 ft 4 in) vessels displace 162 tonnes, and are built using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment, instead of more expensive, high-performance, military-grade equipment, to ease the maintenance burden, since local maintenance will be performed in small, isolated shipyards. [5] [6]
In 1999 Savea carried scientists from the Ministry of Land, Survey, and Natural Resources to study a volcano that emerged from the ocean in early January 1999. [7] A newly emerged volcanic island was observed from the air on January 8, 1999 35 kilometres (22 mi) northwest of Tongatapu Island. When first observed the island was approximately 300 metres (980 ft) long, with a 100 metres (330 ft) cinder cone. The cone was visibly venting fumes. By the time Savea arrived the island had been washed away, but fumes were still venting from underwater vents.
On August 24, 2009, Savea was dispatched to rescue Santana, a yacht in distress. [8] She was proceeding with her captain and a single crew member. That crew member reported the captain fell overboard, and he did not know how to operate the vessel. In 2009, after 20 years of service, Savea returned to Australia for a major refit. [2] She underwent another refit in Australia, in October 2017. [9]
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The Pacific class is a class of 22 patrol boats built by Australia and donated to twelve South Pacific countries. The vessels were constructed between 1985 and 1997 and are operated by the militaries, coast guards or police forces of the twelve island nations. These boats are supported by the Pacific Patrol Boat Program and used primarily for maritime surveillance and fisheries protection.
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VOEA Ngahau Koula may refer to the following ships
VOEA Ngahau Koula (P301) is a Guardian-class patrol vessel designed and built for the Tonga Maritime Force by Australia. After the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea established that all maritime nations were entitled to exercise control over a 200-kilometre (120 mi) exclusive economic zone, Australia agreed to give small patrol boats to Tonga and eleven other neighbours in the Pacific Islands Forum.
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The VOEA Savea departed Masefield Navy Base for the last time on Saturday, April 13, sailing past the Nuku'alofa waterfront and Royal Palace on its way to Australia. It will be replaced by a new patrol boat named VOEA Ngahau Koula (Golden Arrow).
VOEA Ngahau Koula (Golden Arrow) replaces VOEA Savea, a Pacific Forum class patrol boat operated by the Tongan Maritime Force since the late 1980s. A second replacement vessel will follow in 2021. The new Guardian-class vessels are slightly larger, and more capable compared to Pacific Forum-class boats.
According to Component Commander of the Navy, Commander Haisi Fonohema, Tonga will receive the 2 new patrol boats by 2019-2020.
The 31.5-metre PPBs are built to a commercial standard and are used by Pacific nations for maritime surveillance and response, in particular fisheries patrols.
Voea Savea is part of the tiny Tongan Maritime Force, which has a fleet of just half a dozen vessels and 130 sailors. The Voea Saveo has a crew of 14 to18 sailors, a speed of 20 knots, weighs 162 tonnes when fully loaded and is 31.5m long.
On 15 January a survey team, including two geologists from the Ministry of Land, Survey, and Natural Resources, inspected the island from the deck of the VOEA Savea, according to a report in the Tonga Chronicle. At that time the island had disappeared beneath the ocean surface, but the site was still emitting smoke and fumes.
The only surviving crew member has reported that Santana captain fell overboard three days ago. According to the interview by Savea of the crew man, he said that since did not know how to operate the yacht or the communication equipment onboard, he could not recover the captain. He said the Captain wore a life jacket.
On completion of the refit package, the boat was handed over to the crew under the command of Lieutenant Commander Semisi Tapueluelu for work-up on upgraded systems and preparations for passage back to Tonga.