Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
The barge which has grounded on Westport's Carter Beach was a disaster waiting to happen, former harbourmaster David Barnes says.
Inquiries are underway after the Niue-flagged Manahau ran aground during bad weather at the weekend.
At the time, 11 people were onboard the self-propelled barge owned by the Westland Mineral Sands Group.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission said it was anchored outside Westport Harbour but dragged its anchors in poor weather on Saturday night, coming ashore shortly before midnight.
A section of the beach was now restricted to the public to keep them safe as heavy machinery operated in the area.
Barnes, who was harbourmaster at Westport from 1995 to 2005, said the barge was underpowered and its steering insufficient, and Buller Bay was poor holding ground for such a vessel.
"The barge is unfit for purpose, I've been following this barge for the last three years, so I have a fair bit of information on it and, with my background experience of navigating big vessels in and out of Westport Harbour, my assessment was it was unfit for purpose," Barnes said.
Maritime NZ said the restricted access areas were now formally in place around the barge.
National On Scene Commander Mick Courtnell said it was important everyone respected the restrictions.
Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
"This is an operational area, with heavy machinery operating, while on the water it is important to keep away from the vessel and the tethers it has keeping it in place. Our priority is the safety of people, the environment and property."
Whitebaiters were still able to access the southern side of the Buller River, along the Tiphead, Maritime NZ said.
While strong swells had hit the beach over the past 24 hours, there was no immediate risk of its fuel leaking.
The salvage was being managed by WMS Group, but response teams had worked to ensure the barge remained on the beach.
It was held by its anchors, which had been buried in sand, and seven five-tonne blocks of concrete to prevent significant movement, Courtnell said.
Maritime NZ's oil response experts were working with local authorities on environmental protection plans with personnel and specialist equipment mobilised as a precaution to protect the local environment in the event of any spill.
The operator had confirmed with Maritime NZ that specialist tugboats departed from the North Island on Tuesday to assist with the operation.
The crew remained onboard and were safe and well.
Manahau arrived on the West Coast in mid-August to begin shipping mineral sands mined at Cape Foulwind from Westport to Nelson.