The coal ship was stranded aground at Nobbys Beach in Newcastle on June 8, refloated on Monday night and towed into the Port of Newcastle today.

The Fukujin Kisen shipping company said in a statement yesterday that taxpayers will not pay for the exercise that freed the stranded ship after 25 days.

The company said the full salvage operation cost was still being assessed and would be resolved between them, the salvage company Svitzer Australia and the authorities and insurers involved.

“Relevant state and federal legislation and international conventions require ships to have adequate insurance in place for these issues,'' the statement said.

“Contrary to some media reports, costs do not fall to the taxpayer.''

But New South Wales Greens MP Lee Rhiannon yesterday said owners of ships like the Pasha Bulker “regularly refuse” to pay for the ancillary costs involved like local government, police, environment and ports workers.

Rhiannon called on Ports Minister Joe Tripodi to publicly release a full breakdown of all the costs of the Pasha Bulker running aground and who will pay for what aspects of the rescue and salvage operation.

“Fukujin Kisen's assurance that taxpayers won't end up footing the bill for the salvage operation is no guarantee that the public will not be lumped with ancillary costs,” she said.

“Taxpayers have a right to see a full breakdown of all costs from the Pasha Bulker debacle and who is responsible for paying for them.

“If the owners of the Pasha Bulker do not pay for the full costs of this operation – not just the salvage operation but all the associated frills – all Fukujin Kisen vessels should be banned from NSW ports.”