Marine officers are aghast a 294-metre iron-sands export ship will be allowed to berth close to the rugged Waikato west coast tomorrow - without a licensed pilot on board.
New Zealand Steel yesterday received a last-minute exemption from Maritime NZ, after failing so far to recruit and train a licensed replacement for a pilot who has retired after 30 years in the job off Taharoa, south of Kawhia.
Although agency director Keith Manch is requiring two pilots to be on the bridge of the Taharoa Destiny, their normal job is guiding far smaller vessels to Taranaki