CIPPB Te Kukupa
HMPNGS Dreger, a sister ship to Te Kukupa | |
History | |
---|---|
Cook Islands | |
Name: | Te Kukupa |
Owner: | Cook Islands Police Force |
Operator: | Cook Islands Police Force |
Christened: | May 1989 |
In service: | May 1989 |
Refit: | 2015 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Pacific-class patrol boat |
Displacement: | 162 tons |
Complement: | 15 |
CIPPB Te Kukupa is a Pacific-class patrol boat, built by Australia and operated by the Cook Islands.[1][2]
Background
When the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Seas established that all maritime nations exclusive economic zones extended 200 kilometres (124 mi) from their shores, Australia designed and built 22 patrol vessels that it then gave to 12 of its neighbours in the Pacific Forum, so they could exercise sovereignty over their zones, from their own resources.[3]
Australia provided just one vessel to the Cook Islands, and will be providing it with a larger and more capable replacement, from the Guardian class.[4]
Design
Australia designed these vessels using commercial off-the-shelf equipment, rather than high performance military grade equipment to help ease the maintenance burden of maintaining the vessels in small, remote shipyards. Te Kukupa displaces 160 tons, and is designed to allow its crew to remain at sea for missions of up to ten days.
Operational history
The vessel underwent a major refit in Australia in 2015.[2][5]
On November 3, 2017, Te Kukupa rescued the owner of the yacht Zangano, whose engines had failed several days earlier.[1][6]
References
- 1 2 "Yacht in trouble again off the Cooks". Radio New Zealand. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
Cook Islands police patrol boat Te Kukupa is on a rescue mission after a distress alert was sent by the yacht Zangano, which was about 500km southwest of Rarotonga yesterday.
- 1 2 Matariki Wilson (2015-05-15). "Patrol boat 'born again'". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ↑ Emmanuel Samoglou (2014-06-18). "Patrol boat offer for the Cook Islands". Cook Islands News (in English). Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ↑ "Cairns industry refloats Cook Islands patrol boat". ABC Far North Qld. 2015-04-21. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ↑
"Rescued sailor returned to Rarotonga". Radio New Zealand. 2017-11-03. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
The yacht, Zangano, was reached by Te Kukupa drifting in the Niue exclusive economic zone.