The Cook Canyon was bringing the Jay Elaine into the Port of Greymouth under tow when the rope snapped, leaving the Jay Elaine adrift.
The Jay Elaine had struck engine issues off Bruce Bay earlier in the week and was towed back to port by fellow Westfleet fishing vessel the Cook Canyon.
However, the tow coincided with the first autumn squalls of rain and wind, which meant the vessels spent Tuesday night anchored off Greymouth waiting for the right tide and conditions.
On Wednesday afternoon, two other fishing boats crossed the bar not long before the Cook Canyon-Jay Elaine made their move, aiming to ride the high tide.
Curious spectators, including fishermen, council staff, and police lined both tipheads with cameras and binoculars for the crossing. Despite the fine autumn day, swells were estimated at about 2.5m to 3m.
While the outer bar was navigated with ease, once between the Blaketown and Cobden breakwaters, the rope snapped with an audible twang, much to the horror of onlookers, and the Jay Elaine was left bobbing in the swell.
The 27m Cook Canyon swung around in the river and returned to its charge. Brown smoke billowed from the Jay Elaine exhaust as an engine was kicked into life, preventing the boat from drifting too far.
While the Cook Canyon manoeuvred alongside, another fishing vessel, Progress, came down the river to assist, re-hitching the Jay Elaine and towing her out further for the evening, while the Cook Canyon returned to port.
Another attempt was set to be made yesterday and ship tracking showed at 5.30pm Jay Elaine was over the bar and in the Grey River.
The incident highlighted a lack of protections for Greymouth seafarers. It has been two years since the Ivan Talley II rescue vessel was written off after a disastrous bar crossing on the Grey River, and the lack of a harbourmaster has been batted back and forth between the regional and district councils for a number of years.
In the meantime, Kotuku Surf Lifesaving has a presence and two rescue rings are positioned at the Blaketown tiphead in case of a maritime mishap.
