Little oil sighted after Rena splits in two off New Zealand`s North Island

ONLY a light oil sheen over two miles from a wrecked containership Rena that split in two over the weekend has been sighted by New Zealand authorities, and the damage seems small compared to the environmental havoc wreaked when its first ran aground on October 5.

Some 300 cargo containers have been lost overboard from the 3,360-TEU Rena and Maritime New Zealand officials warned people to stay away from the debris washed ashore, reports The Associated Press. Locals have been spotted salvaging powdered milk bags from the boxes washed ashore, but authorities say the food may be unsafe.


The Greek-owned, MSC-chartered Rena spilled 400 tons of fuel oil when it first ran aground on Astrolabe Reef 14 miles off Tauranga, a major port on the country`s North Island.


Since then, salvage crews have removed about 1,100 tons of oil from the ship, along with nearly 400 containers.


The two pieces of the ship are now too precarious for crews to attempt further salvage operations until the seas calm, but they continue to work on securing containers to see that they do not fall into the sea.


Police closed popular Waihi Beach after four cargo containers and other debris washed ashore.