The decision to acquire a second-hand Mercandian 2-in-1 class ship was made in July 1994. Rugg and Co was asked to provide a list of such ships available; they advised that the only ship available was "Mercandian Queen II", which had just come back onto the market after a previous sale fell through, and Cabinet approval was secured on 28 November 1994. The ship was purchased from Mercandia on 16 December 1994 for NZ$14.15 million or 55 million Danish Kronor. She was sailed to New Zealand with a cargo and as a New Zealand-flagged merchant vessel under the name "Sealift" to offset costs, arrived on 14 March 1995, and was commissioned into the RNZN as HMZNS "Charles Upham" (named after dual Victoria Cross winner Charles Upham) on 18 October 1995. Before entering operational service, she was fitted with naval communications equipment, along with four machine guns and two SRBOC Mark 36 launchers for self-defence, and increased accommodation facilities. In military service, the ship's company consisted of 8 officers and 24 sailors.