Troubled Shiling cargo ship arrives in Wellington after mayday

The MV Shiling being escorted into Wellington harbour by tug boats. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The beleaguered MV Shiling cargo ship has been towed to Wellington after a 24-hour voyage from Tasman Bay.

The vessel lost power 22 nautical miles from Farewell Spit and issued a mayday call on May 12. An oceangoing tug from Port Taranaki, the Skandi Emerald, was dispatched and safely secured the troubled vessel, which had been anchored at Tasman Bay since.

The Skandi Emerald has now towed the Shiling to Wellington where it will undergo repairs. The two vessels could be seen near the entrance to the harbour this morning.

A 500-metre exclusion zone was in place around the towage operation for the MV Shiling's journey to Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Incident controller David Billington said th complex operation involved a significant number of people and organisations from around the world.

”From its call for assistance on that morning, through to CentrePort’s pilotage into berth, we have seen response agencies, the owners of the Skandi Emerald, international insurers, the owners and harbourmasters have worked tirelessly to support this tow.”

Billington said many variables needed managing throughout.

“This includes weather, other vessels and berthing availabilities. We saw on the weekend there were rough conditions forecast at its anchorage at Tasman Bay, and Nelson Harbourmaster [allowed] the Shiling to be towed to a point of shelter.”

The Incident response team will stand down once the vessel is berthed, he said.

Wellington regional harbourmaster Grant Nalder said two port tugs will meet the Shiling, help it to berth, and disconnect it from the Skandi Emerald.

Nalder said a ferry would go into the harbour before the Shiling and then there were a couple of hours before any ferries were due to go back out.

“It’s timed so we can do it with minimal disruption.”

Two port tugs will meet the MV Shiling and help it to berth. Photo / Mark Mitchell