A freight ship that lost its rudder as it departed Tauranga Harbour is still anchored off the city a week after the incident.

Bulk carrier MV Achilles Bulker, was departing Tauranga harbour about 3.30pm on July 24 when it lost its rudder and subsequently suffered a steering failure in the harbour’s main channel.

The vessel dropped anchor and was later assisted by tugs to a safe anchorage without further incident.

The Panamanian registered ship was fully laden with a cargo of logs bound for Xingyu, China. The rudder was later found on the seabed in the harbour’s entrance, with evidence of previous damage and the bottom pintle, or bolt, missing.

Currently, the ship is still anchored 6 kilometres northeast of the entrance to Tauranga Harbour, fully laden with logs and no rudder.

Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters​ the problems with the ship are still being investigated.

“Weather and sea conditions are calm and there is no immediate danger of grounding.

“For the safety of boaties, there is a 50m exclusion zone in place around the vessel, which will remain in place while it is anchored.”

The location of the MV Achilles Bulker, a week after losing its rudder. Supplied photo/Stuff.

Peters said Maritime NZ was aware of the situation and that an update would be released next week.

The Achilles Bulker is the second container ship that has recently failed to leave New Zealand to schedule, with the MV Shiling experiencing a series of mechanical issues that caused it to be detained at Wellington Harbour for about two months.

After extensive investigation and testing, the ship eventually left on July 6 and was ordered to return to its home port of Singapore.

-Connore Knell/Stuff.