Troubled ship fails to leave harbour, again

Vega Auriga in Tauranga Harbour. Photo/file.

The departure of a ship banned from Australian ports has been delayed again.

The Vega Auriga arrived in Tauranga in controversial circumstances on August 31.

It was scheduled to leave at 8pm today but is now due to depart at 9.03pm tomorrow.

It is the seventh time the ship's departure has been delayed. The ship berthed at the Port of Tauranga on August 31.

The new agent, Nautilus Shipping, was understood to be awaiting instructions from Vega Auriga's German owner Vega Reederei.

Maritime New Zealand told the Bay of Plenty Times the ship could not leave until 11 issues were rectified.

Independent MP Brendan Horan previously called the Vega Auriga ''a ticking time bomb''.

Issues cited by MNZ include watch staff having inadequate rest periods, a faulty navigation light and no common language among personnel. Read more about the 'serious deficiencies' here.

Vega Auriga

• Owner: Hamburg-based Vega-Reederei GmbH & Co.
• Flag: Liberia.
• Gross tonnage: 9981 tonnes.
• Built: 2006.