DL Marigold, pictured in Lyttleton in December 2016. PHOTO / BERNARD SPRAGG
DL Marigold, pictured in Lyttleton in December 2016. PHOTO / BERNARD SPRAGG
A dirty ship was ordered to leave Tauranga waters after it was found to be severely contaminated.
In a New Zealand first, the Ministry for Primary Industries ordered the DL Marigold to leave the country within 24 hours on Sunday. The order came after ministry divers found dense clusters ofbarnacles and tube worms on the bulk carrier's hull and other underwater surfaces.
We were dealing with severe contamination in this case.
MPI border clearance director Steve Gilbert said the vessel would have to be thoroughly cleaned before it could re-entre New Zealand waters.
"The longer the vessel stayed in New Zealand, the greater chance there was for unwanted marine species to spawn or break away from the ship," he said. "So we had to act quickly."
The DL Marigold arrived in Tauranga from Indonesia on March 4. It had been due to stay in New Zealand waters for 9 days.
The ministry understood the vessel would go to Fiji for cleaning. It would then return to New Zealand to finish discharging a shipment of palm kernel expeller.
"The vessel won't be allowed back until it can provide proof it has been thoroughly cleaned," Mr Gilbert said. "We were dealing with severe contamination in this case."
Mr Gilbert said it was the first time the ministry had ordered an international vessel to leave a New Zealand port for biofouling reasons. As of 11.30am Tuesday, it was off shore from Whangarei.
