Owners' refloat bid stalled

The owners of the stranded bulk carrier Tai Ping and the Maritime Safety Authority are at odds over plans to refloat the vessel at Bluff Harbour.

Hong Kong firm Fenwick Shipping Services was hoping to refloat the ship today but the authority is urging caution amid fears of an environmental disaster if fuel spills from the vessel.

The 16,000-tonne ship is stuck on rocks opposite Morrisons Beach, halfway between the Tiwai wharf and the harbour entrance.

It ran aground in fog at 4.30am on Tuesday, loaded with 9535 tonnes of urea fertiliser and about 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and diesel for its own needs.

The crew of 23 were unhurt in the grounding, which happened when the ship was under the control of a local pilot.

Fenwick director Chris Rabbidge said last night that the company hoped that after removing 400 tonnes of fertiliser from the ship yesterday, it could be refloated on the high tide at 7am today.

It would then be taken into port, where structural damage would be assessed and any repairs carried out, he said.

The company has appointed international salvage experts Smit Salvage to oversee plans to refloat the ship.

But authority spokesman Brian Small said any plan to refloat the vessel needed its approval and he doubted there would be any serious attempt for at least two days.

Instead, the authority has concentrated its efforts on preparing for a possible oil spill.

Authority director Russell Kilvington said yesterday that it was a miracle the Tai Ping's fuel tanks were not ruptured.

He warned that an ill-conceived or rushed bid to refloat the vessel could cause much more damage and result in a fuel spill.

Fast currents at the harbour mouth would spread any pollutant quickly, said Mr Kilvington.

"There are a large number of sensitive sites in and around Bluff Harbour and a significant spill of oil would be extremely serious.

The authority's oil spill response team is in Bluff and two Air Force Hercules flew into Invercargill yesterday to deliver booms and skimmers.

A further two flights are expected today with more backup equipment.

- NZPA

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