Navy vessel HMNZS Otago is on route to the Southern Ocean, having departed Dunedin this morning to monitor illegal fishing.
The offshore patrol vessel was docked at Fryatt Street for three days before departing at 10am.
Its crew is tasked with helping to protect the Southern Ocean from illegal fishing.
Officers will be checking compliance on licensed fishing vessels they encounter.
They'll also be watching for any illegal, unreported or unregulated activity.
New Zealand's been conducting maritime surveillance in the Southern Ocean since the late 1990s.
The licensed fishing season in the Ross Sea region usually finishes around the start of February, when agreed limits have been reached.
