MML was recently selected to carry out ship management for the Royal Navy’s HMS Protector. The Royal Navy’s only ice breaker, the Antarctic patrol vessel was under MML’s management during recent visits to Hobart, Australia and Lyttelton, New Zealand.
The selection of the New Zealand based company by AW Ship Management Ltd. speaks to a growing understanding that New Zealand marine management is amongst the best in the world and reflects a stamp of approval from the UK Royal Navy.
A team holding experience within navies internationally and polar vessels specifically, MML’s business development manager was also the chief engineer on board HMS Endurance – an earlier iteration of Antarctic patrol vessel used by the UK Royal Navy. As both vessels were from the same shipyard, Liddell’s understanding and grasp of the real issues behind defects were seen as key to successful ship management.
Acting British High Commissioner to New Zealand, Helen Smith, recently commented that the ship’s shared stewardship between Britain and New Zealand “reinforced ties between the two nations.” A parallel which can also be drawn in the selection of the New Zealand based authority. MML’s managing director, Pat Heelas, is a New Zealander who also holds UK citizenship.
“Although our offices are based in Auckland” says Heelas “the nature of the experience both my team and I hold ensures we are able to offer a greater depth of understanding to any project we are involved in. We see this as being instrumental to delivering on quality in the globally operative context in which we work. We’re proud to be involved in a project that has an incredible impact on both the environment and conservation.”
