Stricken NZ oil spill vessel breaks up

The port reports that the aft section of the Rena sank yesterday, and surveillance pictures from Maritime New Zealand (MCZ) indicate that much of what is left of the broken vessel is now submerged. There is also still oil visible on the surface, bringing fresh fears of further leakage.

MCZ has stated that it expects no substantial amount of oil will be leaked, but more containers and debris have been lost overboard causing disruption to shipping lanes. Around 40 containers have been sighted floating in a West North West direction from the vessel, between eight and ten miles north of the port.

The port has redeployed monitoring of the port channels, utilising side-scanning sonar and magnetometer sweeping.

A number of containers are reported to have come ashore in the Waihi area but the majority of floating containers have been tagged and buoyed together.

Chief Executive of the port, Mark Cairns, said in a statement: “Salvors have continued throughout the day locating and marshalling floating containers in an area northwest of the port. Ships arriving and departing the port should exercise extreme caution and maintain a vigilant lookout.”

Yesterday, the Harbourmaster issued a recommended route for vessels approaching and leaving the port between the Tauranga Pilot Station and a position five nautical miles due east of Mayor Island.

Article first published in GreenPort