New Zealand's 'Te Mana' frigate revisits Shanghai (4)

（China Military Online）  08:50, May 13, 2013  

SHANGHAI, May 10, (ChinaMil) -- the "Te Mana" frigate (F111) of the Royal New Zealand Navy led by Commander Andel, captain of the frigate, arrived at the Yangtze River Dock in Shanghai on the morning of May 9, 2013 and started its five-day-long goodwill visit to China.

The "Te Mana" frigate visited Shanghai in June 2005 and this is its second visit to Shanghai.

The "Te Mana" frigate has an overall length of 118m, a beam of 14.8m, a draft of 6.2m, a displacement of 3,600 tons and a maximum speed of 22 knots.

A total of 174 servicepersons including 24 officers and 150 men (women), visit Shanghai along with the "Te Mana" frigate this time.

After the frigate's arrival in Shanghai, Commander Andel led main officers to pay an official visit to Li Yujie, commander of a maritime garrison command stationed in Shanghai under the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), and officials of the Shanghai Municipal Government respectively. On the evening of the same day, the maritime garrison command held a welcome reception for the "Te Mana" frigate.

During the visit, Chinese and New Zealand naval officers and men will visit each other's warships, attend an exchange symposium and hold a friendly basketball match. The "Te Mana" frigate will hold a deck reception. The New Zealand officers and men will visit such scenic spots as the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center and the Yu Garden, and some of them will also visit Beijing. Upon the conclusion of the visit, Chinese and New Zealand warships will also conduct a joint maritime drill.

The "Te Mana" frigate just wrapped up its visit to Hong Kong. According to the plan, Inchon of northwest South Korea is the next stop of the frigate.