Grounded ship to return to port

A fully laden log carrier which hit rocks as it was leaving the Port of Tauranga last night would head back into the port today under its own power to be assessed for damage.

The Korean owned Hanjin Bombay went aground on rocks just outside the harbour at 8.05pm and was stuck for two hours before tugs arrived.

Engineers on the ship restored power and it floated free using its own power and with the aid of two Port of Tauranga tugs just after 10pm.

Maritime New Zealand said there was no report of any oil or fuel leakage from the ship.

Port of Tauranga operations manager Nigel Drake said the initial indications were that the ship lost power as it left the harbour and went aground. Engineers were believed to have restored power overnight and it would return to port under its own power although tugs would probably have lines aboard.

The ship remained at anchor about 1.5km outside the harbour with a pilot on board overnight.

"Everything is stabilised so we will bring it back in and the investigation will commence. Two tugs will meet it at the entrance and guide it back into port."

Mr Drake said a pilot was on board when the fully laden ship left the port bound for an Asian destination.

He said it appeared when the ship lost power there was nothing the crew could do to prevent the grounding.

Mr Drake said he could not comment on the risk the grounding posed.

"Any ship grounding is a serious thing and one we try to avoid obviously."

Maritime New Zealand said the grounding of the 167m ship would be investigated by Maritime New Zealand and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

- NZPA