The government has contracted the open ocean tug MMA Vision until June 2026. Photo: Maritime NZ
The government has contracted an open ocean tug that will be on the water from Friday while it works on a long-term plan for a potential new national tug service.
Local government leaders on either side of Cook Strait have been calling for open ocean tugs after several near miss accidents.
One of these was in January 2023 when the Interislander ferry Kaitaki was sailing into Wellington Harbour with 854 passengers on board and lost power, which resulted in a mayday call.
In last year's Budget, Cabinet agreed to put aside $600,000 to fund a business case to explore options and costs for emergency towing capability with a particular focus on the Cook Strait.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that the services of ocean-going tugboat MMA Vision have been contracted through to June next year.
The tug is expected to arrive in Wellington on Friday and will be based between the Cook Strait area and Taranaki.
Bishop said a detailed business case also recommended a "two strike solution" in the long term.
That would include towing capability dedicated to quickly reaching and stabilising a stricken vessel in the Cook Strait (first strike) and regionally based towing capability (second strike) that could tow any stricken vessel in New Zealand back to port.
He said that those boats would be procured by Maritime NZ as a service by entering into retainer contracts with commercial providers.
"The Crown would not directly purchase or own a vessel."
Bishop said the latest analysis indicated that the cost of a two-strike solution was significantly higher than initially thought.
"The government has decided to continue to explore procuring an emergency ocean response capability, on a predominantly user-pays basis.
"We are interested in testing the willingness of users (public and industry) to pay a levy to fund a permanent response capability."
He instructed officials to provide him advice on the most effective approach and expected to hear back in the middle of this year.
Last month RNZ reported Maritime NZ had received expressions of interest relating to possible emergency towing options.
"Work around the business case for emergency towage is ongoing. As part of that work a request for information was sent to a range of interested parties.
"Maritime NZ has received information and are working through analysing it."
In October, former transport minister Simeon Brown accepted a meeting with Greater Wellington Regional Council over concerns that CentrePort's harbour tugs were being stretched beyond their capability.
"We have responded to the incidents to date, but we are responding to events and investing into assets beyond our remit."
The regional council and port felt that responding to these marine accidents it created the risk of disruption to their business.
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