Southland man gets boarding pass to action with Navy
When Southland man André Vergeer took up his first posting as a supply officer on Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) ship HMNZS Otago this year, he wanted action as well as his logistics and administration duties.
Midshipman Vergeer, 19, from Otautau, has already achieved that — he is now a qualified boarding officer, after completing a gruelling five-week course that prepares personnel for boarding vessels at sea.
RNZN ships’ crews undertake boarding operations with government customs and fisheries officials during patrols around New Zealand and the Pacific.The New Zealand Defence Force also works with other countries in the monitoring and interception of vessels carrying drugs, which requires boarding parties to secure the vessel and crew and seize the contraband.
The RNZN Boarding Team course covers communication, pistol and shotgun training, critical incident management, close-quarter combat, combat first aid, room clearing, and ladder drills.
In the final two days of the course the trainees are confronted with a variety of scenarios on a floating pontoon with an upper deck and below-deck rooms, dealing with actors role-playing a fishing crew with limited English.
The scenarios escalate to the point of confrontation, including crew members who barricade themselves below decks with weapons.
Midshipman Vergeer, who graduated as an officer last year, said completing the course meant he could lead boarding parties one day.
“My job as a supply officer is pretty office-bound, so this is about getting in on the action.”
The critical incident management training was the best part, he said.
“It’s about dealing with non-compliant crew members, by using varying levels of force based on the situation.
“It gives you more confidence in defending yourself. You can use your voice, your presence, to gain compliance.”
Midshipman Vergeer wasn’t sure what to do at university, and thought the RNZN would be a good place to start after leaving school.
“The Navy goes on adventures,” he said. “I’m finally on a ship, and this course has been the highlight so far.”
Chief Petty Officer Seaman Combat Specialist Nicholas Hunter said boarding vessels was a key part of RNZN activity.
“It is conducted in challenging conditions and far from shore so provide our sailors with the best equipment and training available.”
