24 May 2023

Growing demands for Aotearoa to get its own ocean going tugboat

From First Up, 5:36 am on 24 May 2023

The stricken container ship MV Shiling's spent it's first night in calm waters after being towed to the safety of Wellington Harbour. It sent out a mayday nearly two weeks ago after losing power off Northland. A foreign owned oil industry tug the Scandi Emerald from Taranaki came to the rescue and towed it all the way to the Capital. The saga has ignited a strong debate over whether New Zealand needs it's own ocean going tugboat - in case of a serious maritime emergency. Our producer Phil Vine spoke to Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder