Rena remains on the reef cracked in two after surviving another night of bad weather
The Filipino captain and the navigation officer of the cargo ship that ran aground on a New Zealand reef a month ago could now face two years in prison after fresh criminal charges were laid on Wednesday.
The 47,000-ton Rena remains on the reef 22 kilometres off the east coast port of Tauranga, cracked in two and listing 21-22 degrees after surviving another night of 3-metre sea swells and 54-kilometre- per-hour winds that authorities feared could sink it.
Up to 360 tons of oil spilled from the Liberian-flagged ship after it ran onto the reef on October 5, polluting some of the country’s finest white sand beaches and killing at least 1,365 seabirds and 13 seals.
The Maritime New Zealand agency, which is overseeing a salvage operation, said it had charged both men with the ‘discharge of harmful substances’ from a ship, an offence carrying a maximum two- year prison sentence or fine of 300,000 New Zealand dollars (244,000 US dollars).
They had earlier been accused of ‘operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk’ – a charge carrying a 12-month prison sentence.
A judge ordered the identities of both men to be kept secret for fear angry residents would take the law into their own hands.
Salvage workers trying to pump the remaining 350 tons of heavy fuel oil off the ship were evacuated Monday after authorities said worsening weather increased chances of it breaking up and sinking.
Maritime New Zealand said the crew of a tug, which has a tow line to the Rena and had kept a vigil overnight, reported it remained intact. Poor visibility prevented an aerial survey of the wreck, which still has more than 1,000 containers of goods precariously balanced on its deck.
Source: M&C
