Replacement vessel construction
Funded: $1.92m by MBIE (Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit)
Total project cost: $6.65m
Project duration: 3.5 years
New jobs expected over project life: 34
This project will see the completion of a design and the build of a replacement vessel for the Tamahere 94 barge which was used as a work platform in the Waikato and Waipā rivers over the last 50 years.
The Tamahere 94 reached the end of its life and was decommissioned and scrapped. The vessel was a strategic asset used for river management and flood protection works to maintain the stability and capacity of the river channels, undertaking activities such as removal of trees and debris from channels, river control works and stabilisation of river banks. This work can only be undertaken from the water and requires a floating work platform.
The vessel will be built in New Zealand, thereby supporting economic recovery.
Benefits
- Access for riverbank stabilisation and flood protection purposes.
- Maintenance of the capacity of river channels so they can carry flood flows in keeping with the level of service of the lower Waikato flood protection scheme.
- Stabilisation of the banks prevents widening of the river channel and subsequent reductions in channel depth.
- Stabilisation of banks protects land and inland islands from eroding into the river.
- Stabilisation of riverbanks in the vicinity of stopbanks, protecting those assets from becoming compromised.
- Removal of obstructions (such as trees) within the channels addresses navigation hazards.
- Water quality and habitat improvements.
- Availability of a vessel locally to support in river works undertaken by other organisations, such as asset inspections and infrastructure upgrades.
Activities
- Vessel design
- Vessel construction
- Vessel delivery
- Mooring upgrade
- Dry docking facility
Progress
- The final fit-out of the vessel has been completed and commissioning and testing of all equipment is underway.
- The skipper has been appointed and will take part in harbour and sea trials.
- Harbour and sea trials have started.
- The application for the operational consents to undertake full scope river works has been lodged and is undergoing processing.
- Excavator operator appointed for undertaking river management works from the vessel.
Next steps
- Harbour and sea trials to continue.
- Vessel delivery and handover expected late 2025, with transit from Whangarei to Meremere mooring subject to weather and river depths.
- Cultural blessing at Meremere before vessel familiarisation activities start on the river.
- Operational resource consents granted.
