A 290-metre ship has made an unexpected stop over in Tasman Bay to allow repairs to be carried out.
The Taharoa EOS entered the bay on Tuesday after being granted permission from Tasman District Council to enter the waters, and will feature in the Tasman Bay landscape for about a week.
The 92,000 tonne Taharoa EOS was on its way, unladen, from Singapore to load iron sands off Waikato’s west coast when the need for repairs arose.
The ship's master made the decision to seek permission to have the repairs undertaken in Nelson as it is too large to enter any port on the west coast of either the North or South Island.
A TDC spokesperson says that while they have a responsibility to assist a ship in need, marine surveyors and engineers were first enlisted to report on the extent of repairs needed.
"We were very conscious of the responsibility to ensure it did not in any way pose a risk to our environment, either while anchored or through the repairs that needed to be made," says a spokesperson.
The spokesperson says the ship will be "very visible" from shore and people may wish to go in for a closer look but need to be aware that a current navigation notice prohibits any vessel getting closer the 500 metres to it.
"The navigation notice will also alert other vessels of the Taharoa’s location while at anchor, perhaps a little redundant as she will be seen by all from shore in Tasman and Nelson."
