A container ship forced to spend weeks docked in Wellington Harbour following a breakdown issued a mayday call off the coast of the South Island on Friday.
A large emergency response was triggered as Maritime New Zealand responded to the mayday request from the Singaporean cargo vessel the Shiling, which had 24 crew on board.
The Skandi Emerald from Port Taranaki was dispatched earlier on Friday to tow the ship to a safe location. The Skandi Emerald arrived on scene at 4:27pm, and started connecting up with the Shiling at 4:42pm.
With the shop now being towed to a safe location by an ocean-going tug and the mayday lifted, Maritime NZ has confirmed an investigation is underway.
It comes as a relief as earlier the crew were prepared to abandon the vessel due to heavy seas.
The New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement the 66,000-tonne container ship was "drifting in rolling seas after losing power".
Fortunately, conditions improved and the vessel master told Maritime NZ he was comfortable staying on the vessel. The ship's master also said the cargo is secure.
Maritime NZ said the cargo ship is situated 22 nautical miles northwest of Farewell Spit. The ship put a request through for assistance at about 8:27am after losing power and steering and at 11am, the vessel put out a mayday call.
Operations manager RCCNZ Michael Clulow said this is a "fluid situation" and RCCNZ is coordinating the response, and working with several partner agencies.
Multiple rescue helicopters and several rescue vessels were stationed nearby but have since been stood down.
Rescue helicopters were relocated from Auckland and Christchurch, and helicopters from Nelson and New Plymouth were on standby.
A Coastguard vessel out of Nelson, the Nelson Harbourmaster's vessel, and Police's Marine vessel out of Wellington were prepositioned to respond should the situation deteriorate, Clulow said.
A New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) spokesperson said a C-130 Hercules aircraft had been diverted from an exercise to assess the situation off Farewell Spit.
"An NZDF liaison officer is providing assistance to the Rescue Coordination Centre, and an RNZAF NH90 helicopter is on standby prepared to respond if requested."
Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre NZ also placed assets from NZ Police, Coastguard, and St John Airdesk on standby.
