Race against time to prevent oil disaster!

[brynne]

Bad weather and rising swells are adding to fears of a potential environmental disaster in the Bay of Plenty.

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.

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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

Labour, the Greens and environmental groups have expressed frustration at the way authorities are handling the salvage mission.

Labour's conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson said the operation lacks leadership.

Dyson said more action is needed because the dispersant has not been working and rough weather is set to close in.

But Svitzer Salvage spokesperson Matthew Watson said the operation was moving at a similar pace to other salvage missions.

 

He said there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes.

"Things are certainly on track," Watson told ONE News.

"Things are certainly moving pretty well, but I think as people know by now this is not something that is going to be quick.

"You have to take this very carefully, very steadily."

 

Watson said more equipment was being brought in from overseas.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said while he thought the operation started slowly, things had "ramped up".

He said realisation of the scale of the task ahead was starting to set in.

"There is going to be an environmental disaster, the level of which is not known," Crosby told TV ONE's Breakfast.

"We certainly do hope that Maritime New Zealand and the salver will do their very best to limit the impact. But there is going to be an impact."

 

The Green Party is calling on the Government to release details of the Rena's cargo.

Meanwhile, boaties in the Bay of Plenty are still being urged to respect the exclusion zone around the stricken ship. They are prohibited from approaching closer than one kilometre to the ship.

The oil leak is said to be toxic to humans and will stick to any boat that passes through.

 

 

Wildlife affected

Wildlife in the area have begun to feel the effects with fears that the worst of the environmental impact is yet to come.

Seven birds - five little blue penguins and two shags - have already been brought to the wildlife centre in Te Maunga with oil coverage to their feathers ranging. The birds are being stabilised and some will be washed today.

There are four wildlife rescue teams on Motiti Island and another two on the mainland, with a further 10 teams to be deployed today. They will search the beaches for affected animals.

 

 

Maritime New Zealand has urged the public to report any affected wildlife by calling 0800 333771

 

From:tvnz.co.nz