An oil and gas drilling ship has broken some of its moorings as a result of bad weather off New Plymouth.
The vessel, the Noble Discoverer, was working in the Maui gas field, near Taranaki, on Wednesday.
Shell Todd Oil Services general manager Rob Jager says some of the ship's anchor-lines failed during the storm.
As a result, the rest of the lines were released so the ship could find shelter in deeper water.
Mr Jager says there are at least 100 crew on board and they are safe.
