Photo: Supplied / Maritime NZ
The stranded Manahau has been dragged off Westport's Carters Beach with the help of a tug and a helicopter, six days after it ran aground in stormy weather.
Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park owner Christina Alfeld said hundreds of people had turned up at beach on Friday morning to watch the salvage operation.
"The Blackhawk helicopter took off from the airport about 11am and then it picked up the line from the tow vessel and dropped it gently onto the boat. Then they slowly took up the slack and when the tide came in and the waves were right, they gave a wee pull and with each wave they gave it a bit more of a pull and gently pulled it out."
Alfeld said the barge had been towed back out to sea.
"It is really good to see her off the beach, they have a couple more days of clean up and putting the beach back the way it was so there is a bit more work to be done but it is great news for the barge."
Westland Mineral Sands said the specialist operation started at low tide around 6.30am, with fresh water, food, and supplies delivered to the 11 crew on board.
Photo: Supplied / Maritime NZ
The Manahau was successfully refloated just after midday. The barge's hull was deemed intact, there were no leaks and it will now be towed to Nelson.
Westland Mineral Sands managing director Ray Mudgway said the company was grateful for the community's support and understanding since the Manahau ran aground.
He was also thankful for the support of Maritime New Zealand, other local authorities and the salvage operator for their work.
"From the night the Manahau ran aground at Carters Beach we have pulled together the best resources and the best recovery team available in New Zealand to run a world class operation with no risk to the crew or to the environment and they delivered."
On Friday morning, salvage crew used excavators to retrieve the Manahau's anchors from the vessel and discharged all ballast to prepare for recovery.
Photo: Supplied / Maritime NZ
When the salvage master was satisfied the necessary equipment was in place, the conditions were right and there was no risk to the crew or the environment, he gave the green light to begin the operation.
The barge was towed off the beach by the offshore tug MMA Vision, with a Blackhawk helicopter used to carry the other end of a heavy, braided tow rope to the barge.
The MMA Vision's captain waited for the incoming tide to bring more water under the barge, slowly took up the strain of the tow rope and gently pulled the Manahau off the beach to safety.
Maritime NZ national on scene commander Mick Courtnell said it was pleasing to see the Manahau leave Carters Beach.
The operation had been well managed, in sometimes difficult conditions, he said.
Maritime NZ's role was to lead the government's national level maritime response, monitoring salvage plans to ensure they were safe and compliant.
A team of 10 people had been on the ground in Westport and a larger team, including the national maritime controller were providing support out of Wellington. The team will now support local remediation efforts.
The vessel's Class Society will need to inspect and provide assurance that suitable repairs have been made before it can be released.
Maritime New Zealand previously said the stranded barge had some deficiencies when it was inspected upon its arrival in the country in July, but it did not believe they were factors in its grounding.
The Manahau had been detained in Nelson until the deficiencies were rectified by the operator.
It then arrived on the West Coast in mid-August to begin shipping mineral sands mined at Cape Foulwind from Westport to Nelson.
A Maritime NZ investigation is underway into the incident and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has opened an inquiry into the grounding.
TAIC acting chief investigator of accidents Louise Cook said a team of investigators would inspect the vessel, recover the ship's records, interview the crew, authorities and any other witnesses.
A protection order had been issued to preserve and protect evidence - including electronic data from the vessel such as voyage and voice data, engine room logs, CCTV and logbooks.
It would also protect onboard equipment including propulsion, power supply and anchor systems.
Westland Mineral Sands said it had also engaged an independent expert to help understand how the incident had occurred, and their investigation was well underway.