No more oil leaks from broken Rena`s as containership now 75pc submerged

CONTAINERSHIP, the Rena, that ran aground on the Astrolabe reef off the coast of Tauranga in New Zealand, has broken in half during a storm, leaving the vessel three-quarters submerged.

The country`s coast guard agency, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) also said there was no further oil leaking from the wreck though there were 12 patches about 100 by 50 metres wide but appeared to breaking down.


The ship`s condition is reported to have been deteriorating since its grounding, and salvagers have been working to remove the oil before it reaches shore and also the remaining containers. The recovery work is being conducted under the guidance of MNZ, reports the American Shipper.


MNZ said the stern section of the ship was perched on the edge of the reef and about 75 per cent of the vessel was submerged, adding that the current state of the sea state, combined with the condition of the wreck, prevented dive operations, but the swells are expected to ease over the next few days, reported APNZ News Service.


"The amounts of oil we`re dealing with are small, we do remain ready to respond and escalate if this is needed and our trajectory modelling now shows that possible impact from Little Waihi to Pukehina probably late Thursday evening." said a spokesman.


The shipowner, Costamare Shipping, said its insurers are continuing to fund the salvage operation, including the recovery and processing of containers washed overboard. But the company has not responded to queries about whether it will pay for the beach clean up and foot the entire bill of the cost of the disaster as demanded by New Zealand Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee.


The agency said a small amount of oil and debris, and two containers were discharged from the stern section as it submerged, adding that the majority of the oil has been pumped off the ship.


"Weather and sea conditions at the reef have not allowed salvors to board the stern. When possible, divers will inspect the hull and there will be an assessment of whether the Smit Borneo, a crane barge that has been used to remove containers from the vessel can be repositioned over the wreck," the agency was quoted as saying.


According to firm Braemar Howells that has been assisting with the recovery, 49 boxes have been identified as either floating or beached since the Rena split apart earlier this month. Out of this total, around 25 are beached, and the company estimates that 400 containers remain in the stern section of the Rena.


Two tugs have been sent to the Rena in an attempt to contain drifting containers, and also to tow any floating boxes to a specialized recovery barge, the report added.