Former Royal New Zealand Navy patrol boats Rotoiti and Pukaki are craned onto a big lift vessel for transfer to Ireland. Photo / George Block

The Republic of Ireland Department of Defence has bought the former Royal NZ Navy fishery patrol vessels Rotoiti and Pukaki for $42 million.

The two vessels entered into New Zealand Navy service in 2010 but were deemed not fit for service less than a decade later in 2019.

After sitting idle for 18 months at Devonport Naval Base, Ireland agreed to buy the vessels provided New Zealand spent $26m to bring them up to a ”seagoing state”.

That work included an overhaul of all major machinery such as main engines, generators, drive shafts, propellers, stabilisers and boat davits.

The ships also had a number of system upgrades installed including a new integrated platform management system, maritime communications suite and CCTV system.

The Defence Force said spending tens of millions of dollars on major overhaul work on the decade-old vessels was an economic boost because it was completed by 15 local businesses.

“This work provided a welcome $26 million economic boost for all the local maritime contractors and sub-contractors involved,” Chief of Joint Defence Services, Brigadier Rob Krushka, said.