Source: Maritime New Zealand
There was good news for safety in the Cook Strait on 17 April when Minister of Transport Chris Bishop announced that the Government is considering next steps on developing an emergency ocean response capability and has contracted anchor handling tug supply vessel – the MMA Vision – to provide assurance in the meantime.
The MMA Vision, owned by MMA Offshore and currently on charter to support offshore activity in Taranaki, has assisted in previous incidents such as last year’s Manahau grounding on the West Coast, when it successfully pulled the barge off the beach and towed it to Tasman Bay.
The agreement between Maritime NZ, MMA and the vessel charterer currently runs until July 2026 and will provide additional maritime safety and response capabilities for New Zealand and, in particular, Cook Strait. The vessel will be stationed in the vicinity of Wellington Harbour or the Marlborough Sounds when not engaged in its primary operational activity in Taranaki.
Cook Strait is a vital maritime route between Wellington and Picton, known for its challenging conditions and high volume of marine traffic. The availability of the MMA Vision will reduce potential risk for passengers and vessels crossing the Strait.
At the same time, the Government has decided to continue to explore procuring an enduring emergency ocean response capability, on a predominantly user-pays basis.
“We are interested in testing the willingness of users (public and industry) to pay a levy to fund a permanent response capability. I have instructed officials to provide me with advice on the most effective approach and expect to hear back in the middle of the year,” Minister Bishop said in the 17 April statement.