Oil and gas search on the horizon after $20m refit

Niwa is to install a dynamic positioning system in the Tangaroa which will boost the ship's versatility.

Niwa's ocean research vessel Tangaroa is to be fitted with new equipment to increase its versatility, including use in the oil and gas exploration sector.

As part of a $20 million refit, the vessel will be fitted with a dynamic positioning system allowing it to stay in one place or move on a set path.

This will improve its ability to deploy or operate scientific, fishing, or mining equipment, such as seabed samplers, soil and rock testing equipment and seabed drill rigs.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research director of research Rob Murdoch said the refit over the next 18 months would "upskill" the 18-year-old vessel which had attracted interest from oil explorers previously but been of limited use, given it needed to be anchored in four points to remain stationary.

"We believe it will trigger more exploratory work if we can offer a cost effective platform, rather than having to bring something in from outside."

New Zealand Oil & Gas said the modified vessel would give explorers more options, although it would not be capable of seismic testing.

There would be a surge in offshore exploration over the next few years and anything which made that easier was welcome, as long as hiring the Tangaroa was more cost effective than vessels from overseas, an NZOG spokesman said.

Niwa said the upgrade was one of the most significant investments it had made in infrastructure.

Chief executive John Morgan said there were no New Zealand vessels with such a highly-advanced dynamic positioning capability.