The MV Shiling spent about two months in Wellington after breaking down. Photo: Angus Dreaver / RNZ
Greater Wellington Regional Council says recent engine troubles with the domestic cargo ship the Rangitata is a further example of where they are relying on luck to avoid shipping incidents around the coast.
It follows troubles earlier this year when both the Interislander's Kaitaki ferry and MV Shiling cargo ship also experienced engine troubles.
For the Rangitata, it was on its way from Lyttelton to Tauranga on 3 November when it experienced engine trouble off Cape Palliser.
Harbourmaster Grant Nalder said the ship started going slower and slower while heading north.
He said while the ship did not request to be rescued, a call was made to tug it back to Wellington, with the help of a local operator who was in the area.
Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor and Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter had raised their concerns about the lack of a tug capable for open water rescue with the previous government.
Greater Wellington Regional Council chief executive Nigel Corry said they were "anxious to keep those conversations going with the incoming government".
It was clear offshore towage was needed along the country's coastline, he said.
Taylor said previous cases such as the MV Shiling showed New Zealand was relying on good luck more than good management.
In that case it was only "good luck" that a Singapore tug was in Taranaki and able to help, she said.
It showed the need for a resident tug that could "respond around the coastline of New Zealand," Taylor said.
Nalder said a 24/7 rescue tug would likely be too expensive.
"We don't have the luxury of having a dedicated vessel just in case."
He said they needed to look for a vessel that could do other work on the coastline as well as providing tug capabilities.
It is work that Maritime New Zealand has already been tasked with addressing.
A Maritime NZ spokesperson said it had provided preliminary advice to a former associate minister on emergency towage capacity.
It said now that a new government had been formed, it would be briefing the new minister or associate minister on this matter.
Meanwhile, Nalder said consideration also needed to be given to how to minimise breakdowns in the first place.
"There's also concern about the condition of some of the ships that are trading around the New Zealand coast, and as part of the briefing to the incoming minister our council's supporting Maritime New Zealand to be able to improve their inspection capacity."
Greater Wellington has noted its concerns following issues with the Rangitata in its November Finance and Risk Assurance Committee paper and may table them on Tuesday.
The ship itself meanwhile will remain under the detention of Maritime New Zealand until all repairs and inspections are completed and conditions for release are met.