Transport Minister Chris Bishop details next steps for an emergency ocean response capability, including a temporary assurance measure.
The Government is moving forward with developing an emergency ocean response capability for the Cook Strait area and surrounding waters. This comes after Cabinet directed the Ministry of Transport and Maritime New Zealand to create a business case outlining options to improve New Zealand's maritime emergency ocean response capability last year. The Detailed Business Case recommends a "two-strike" solution, where a locally based "first-strike" capability would quickly reach and stabilise any stricken vessel in the Cook Strait area, while a regionally based "second-strike" capability would tow vessels back to port.
The business case analysis notes 23 maritime incidents over the last five years where ready access to an emergency ocean response capability may have been beneficial. However, all these incidents were resolved with existing capabilities and vessels of opportunity. The Government has decided to explore procuring an emergency ocean response capability on a predominantly user-pays basis by testing the willingness of users (public and industry) to pay a levy to fund a permanent response capability.
To provide assurance while a long-term solution is worked through, the Government has contracted the services of ocean-going tugboat 'MMA Vision', expected to arrive in Wellington tomorrow. The Ministry will publish its business case on Maritime New Zealand's website in the coming weeks.