HMNZS Canterbury was commissioned in 2007. It is based on a modified Dutch 131m roll-on/roll-off (RORO) passenger ferry designed by Merwede Shipyard, Netherlands. It completed its outfitting in Australia in June 2007. The MRV is ice-strengthened for polar operations, and has thr ability to transport a company of 250 combat troops and equipment.
The 9000 ton ship is so large that it cannot fit into any dry dock in New Zealand. A ship typically undergo dry dock maintenance every five years. ST Marine's shipyard at Benoi, Singapore has two dry docks. The larger one can accommodate vessels up to 70,000 ton, 240m long and 41.8m wide.
