A CONTAINERSHIP lost power off New Zealand’s South Island on Friday, almost prompting an abandon-ship.

Twenty-four crew were aboard Singapore-flagged Shiling (IMO: 9290452) when it lost power and steering on the morning of 12 May.

Adrift in heavy seas, the vessel put out a mayday call at around 1100 stating the crew were preparing to abandon the vessel, according to Maritime NZ.

The vessel had issued an initial request for assistance at 0827 that morning.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) co-ordinated a search and rescue response plan, and an ocean going tug out of Taranaki was dispatched to tow the vessel to a safe location.

The tugboat was expected to have reached Shiling’s location by between 1700 and 1800 on Friday.

On Friday afternoon, the ship was located around 22 nautical miles north north-west of Farewell Spit, a peninsula on the Cook Strait.

Maritime NZ said the vessel was slowly drifting north-east, and with no risk of grounding before the tug’s scheduled arrival.

It said ocean conditions had improved since the mayday call, and the vessel master said he was comfortable remaining on board at the time.

RCCNZ operations manager Mike Clulow said rescue helicopters and several rescue vessels were stationed nearby to assist if required

“We also have a [New Zealand Defence Force] P-8A Poseidon in the air above the ship to co-ordinate assistance, and other response assets are available should they be required,” he said.

“This still has the potential to become a rescue situation, so we remain poised to respond,” he says.

Maritime NZ incident controller Kenny Crawford said the master has told Maritime NZ the cargo is still secure.

Maritime NZ said it is monitoring the situation, including the actions being taken by the vessel’s owner to safely connect to the towing vessel and remove it to a safe location.

This is the second time Shiling has run into trouble in NZ waters recently; the vessel’s engine failed last month while navigating Wellington harbour.

Shiling had been on a Singapore to New Zealand via Brisbane loop (OOCL’s New Zealand Southeast Asia Express, ANL’s KIX).

The vessel was scheduled to call Singapore on 23 May, according to the latest available voyage information from the container lines.