The Royal New Zealand Navy has decommissioned its tanker HMNZS Endeavour after almost 30 years of service at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.
Endeavour started her service in April 1988 after being built in South Korea. She is the third ship of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after James Cook's HM Barque Endeavour on his first voyage to New Zealand.
Crewed by 50 officers and sailors, Endeavour spent her years in service refuelling ships at sea, enabling other navy vessels to operate over long distances for extended periods of time.
She will be replaced by the future HMNZS Aotearoa, which will have twice the displacement of HMNZS Endeavour and will carry 30 per cent more fuel.
