The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has urged New Zealand to ban substandard ships under clear criteria, following its investigation into the container ship Shiling, which had to be rescued and towed back to port twice in 2023.
Naveen Kozhuppakalam, Chief Investigator of Accidents at TAIC, highlighted that substandard ships pose serious risks to their crews, New Zealanders working in ports and harbours, such as pilots, stevedores, and contractors, and to the country’s coastal environment.
According to the commission’s findings, the Shiling had a history of defects and was almost certainly unfit to sail safely while in New Zealand waters.
The first incident happened on 15 April 2023 when the Shiling was leaving Wellington under pilot guidance. As the ship began to turn into the harbour entrance channel, it suddenly lost all electrical power, which caused the main engine to stop working.
The ship drifted toward shallow waters, but the crew managed to prevent
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