MSC`s aging Liberian 3,300-TEU ship runs aground off NZ, leaking oil

TWO of seven cargo holds are flooded aboard the Liberian-flagged 3,300-TEU Rena, deployed by Geneva`s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) in its Capricorn service after it ran aground on a reef off New Zealand`s north island port of Tauranga.

Listing 12 degrees, Lloyd`s List Intelligence`s casualty reported an elongated oil slick extending two kilometres from the ship. No one appears to have been hurt, according to local media. New Zealand`s Transport Accident Commission Committee has boarded the vessel to assess damage and interview the crew.


The 21-year old ship was en route from Napier to Tauranga when it ran aground in the early hours of the morning, reported London`s Containerisation International. It is understood that the ship carries 1,700 tonnes of bunker and 2,100 containers.


The Greek-owned vessel was engaged on MSC`s Capricorn service linking Australia and New Zealand rotating through Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Bluff, Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and back to Fremantle.


A year ago last August, the 2,314-TEU MSC Chitra, built in 1980, was in collision with a 33,113-ton bulk carrier Khalijia 3 in the Mumbai ship channel. The Chitra ran aground and toxic gas poured from boxes in its flooded holds.


In January 2007, off the south west coast of England, the 4,419-TEU MSC Napoli suffered a crack in its hull during a storm and the engine room of the 1991-built ship was flooded. Containers were lost and washed up on shore, falling prey to scavengers