Plans are in place for the removal of a vessel rotting and sinking on its mooring in Tairua Harbour.

Sadly, the boat's owner has recently passed away.

"Last week a commercial operator alerted Waikato Regional Council to an old wooden vessel sinking on its mooring in Tairua Harbour," says Waikato Regional Council's regional harbourmaster Chris Bredenbeck.

"Staff from our Maritime Services team responded, pumping out the water."

The team returned again on Sunday, after becoming aware that the vessel was again taking on water.

The vessel will be  dismantled and removed over the coming days. Photo: Claire Rogers.

"They pumped the water from the vessel and then towed it to shore on the high tide, where it remains," says Chris.

"After establishing that the owner has recently passed away, we arranged for the 300 litres of diesel onboard to be safely drained and taken away so it no longer posed a risk to the environment."

Chris says while the diesel was being removed from the vessel at low tide, booms were set up around it just in case any contaminants escaped.

"Unfortunately, the timber is rotten which prevents the vessel from being lifted off the beach, so it will be dismantled and removed over the coming days," says Chris.