Stricken cargo ship moved away from coast

11.00am

The stricken cargo ship Taharoa Express was today being moved off the Northland coast in the first stage of its journey back to Japan.

The ship, fully-laden with ironsand bound for Japan, had been at anchor off Dargaville since it had problems with a cracked propeller shaft earlier this week.

Two tugs, one from New Plymouth and another from Auckland, arrived at the scene during the past two days.

Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Helen Mojel said the Taharoa Express weighed anchor this morning and the tugs had started moving her out to sea.

The vessel would head due west away from the New Zealand coast for about 200 nautical miles, before turning north.

It would rendezvous somewhere south of New Caledonia with a tug from Japan.

That tug was due to arrive in Auckland in the middle of this month to pick up fresh supplies, before heading back to sea to catch up with Taharoa Express.

- NZPA

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine