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Maritime NZ says new oil which was spotted leaking from the stricken container vessel Rena this afternoon has now dispersed. But there are fears the window of opportunity for preventing disaster is closing with gale force winds and huge swells forecast from Monday. "The hull will be going up and down with every big swell and eventually that will split the vessel in two," marine risk assessor John Riding told ONE News. The Awanuia, an oil transportation barge, will arrive in Tauranga early tomorrow to take Rena's fuel. If the weather holds up, it should begin to start pumping tomorrow evening. "We know what the weather forecast is coming in. We don't know how its going to affect the vessel," said Maritime NZ salvage adviser Captain John Walker.
Reef struck early in the morning
The 47,000 tonne container vessel struck the Astrolabe Reef, off the coast of Tauranga, at about 2.30am on Wednesday. The ship was carrying about 1700 cubic metres of heavy fuel, about 1.7 million litres, enough to fill two thirds of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Among its cargo are four containers of the hazardous substance ferro-silicon. By Tuesday, salvage teams will have enough equipment in place to collect all 1700 tonnes of fuel oil if the vessel goes down. But the on water response team has warned such a scenario could bring scenes similar to the Gulf of Mexico disaster earlier this year. Four vessels from the New Zealand Defence Force have joined the team, including Rotoiti, Taupo, Manawanui, and Endeavour which will arrive on Monday.
Anyone who sees what they think may be oil on a shoreline should call 0800 OIL SPILL (0800 645 774). An Iroquois helicopter and around 500 defence force personnel are also on standby for a shoreline cleanup. Teams are looking at ways to protect Matakana island and Maketu estuary from pollution, and staff, scientists and iwi are diving the reef off the coast of Motiti island as far as Waihi Beach checking for oil damage. Specialist salvage equipment has been deployed from around the country and Australia to support the salvage operation being undertaken by Svitzer.
Mounting criticism
