Fears that the ship might break up and more oil could be leaked into the ocean
Waves of at least five metres are expected to lash the Rena in the next 48 hours, raising fears that the ship might break up and more oil could be leaked into the ocean.
The Liberian-registered and Filipino-crewed ship ran aground on the Astrolabe reef while coming into Tauranga on October 5.
Large cracks started to appear on the ship in the days that followed, but calm weather over the past three weeks has helped the cargo vessel stay intact.
But it may not last much longer in one piece, as large sea swells were expected in the Bay of Plenty over the next two days.
Salvage efforts were suspended yesterday after sea conditions made it too unsafe for work to continue on the ship. Salvors were able to seal the tanks and air vents today, which would help limit further release of oil.
“The salvors have made great progress during the good weather window in recent days, but the swell yesterday forced them to stop work,” Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) Salvage Unit Head Kenny Crawford said.
“Operations remain suspended, with the forecast for a significantly rougher sea state in the next few days.”
Salvors had been working on a dam to help access the number five starboard tank, which holds 358 tonnes of oil. But work on the dam had also been suspended.
Rough sea conditions could also lead to more containers being tipped off the vessel, MNZ said.
Salvors Svitzer is attempting to fit tracking devices to the containers which contain dangerous goods and others which were most likely to be lost from the ship, MNZ said.
More oil could also be lost from the Rena’s duct keel and “other pockets”, and could wash ashore.
“But exactly where will depend on wind and tide conditions,” National On Scene Commander Mick Courtnell said.
“We are however remaining vigilant and will be ready to respond if and when this happens.”
The rough weather may help to aid the natural dispersion of some of the oil, Courtnell said.
CONTAINERS PREPARED FOR REMOVAL
Large cranes were being fitted to a container barge in preparation for removing the remaining cargo from the wrecked container ship Rena.
Salvage operations had so far focused on removing more than 1000 tonnes of oil from the ship’s tanks.
However, a MNZ spokesman confirmed that plans were also being made to remove hundreds of containers still precariously balanced on the Rena’s deck.
Eighty-eight containers had fallen into the ocean already.
The Sea-Tow 60, an 85-metre cargo barge, arrived from Queensland last Thursday to help with the salvage operation, the MNZ spokesman said.
“That’s now being fitted with a couple of large cranes that could lift the containers.”
However, MNZ was not sure when that would happen.
“The priority is getting the oils off. Once that operation’s completed they’ll start looking at the containers – you can’t have the two jobs going on at once.”
MATAKANA ISLAND CLEAN-UP
Weary clean-up teams will return to Matakana Island today after more oil reportedly washed ashore from the wreck of the Rena.
The oil was thought to be from a release of heavy fuel oil from the grounded ship several days ago, spilling through the crack in the hull.
National On Scene Commander Nick Quinn said while the heavy oil continued to wash ashore, lighter hydraulic oil being released around the bow section of the Rena appeared to be dispersing naturally.
A reported oil slick south of the East Cape had been confirmed as algal bloom, he said.
Salvors have managed to pump more than 1000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil from its tanks so far. There were an estimated 1700 tonnes on board.
Their next task will be to remove the oil from the submerged Number 5 starboard tank, which requires divers to work extensively on the area before pumping can begin.
MNZ Salvage Unit Manager Kenny Crawford said rough weather yesterday forced the divers to stop work on a on a coffer dam to seal off the passageway above the tank.
“While removing the remaining 358 tonnes of heavy fuel oil from the starboard tank remains the salvage team’s highest priority, they are also taking the opportunity to remove hydraulic fluid and other lighter oils from other tanks in the ship that are easier to access,” Crawford said.
North-easterly winds are forecast to develop later today and strengthen tomorrow, possibly delaying the diver’s work further.
Heavy rain is predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday, MetService said, as the winds turn to the west.
Meanwhile, other beach clean up operations would continue today, with two events focussed at Papamoa Beach this morning and a third at Maketu this afternoon, Quinn said.
“We’re conscious that as we head back into another working week that people will be busier, but we’d really appreciate anyone that can spare a few hours to pop down to one of the clean up events and help,” he said.
Details of volunteer events today are:
– Clean up at Papamoa Beach, starting at the Hartford Avenue Beach Access, (opposite 370 Papamoa Beach Road), starting at 9.00am
– Clean up at Te Tumu (far eastern end of Papamoa Beach) starting at 9.00am. Access is via a gate at the end of Papamoa Beach Road and up a 3km gravel road across Maori land (access is fine for two wheel drive vehicles). The gate will be manned from 8.45am – 9.30am, but volunteers are asked to please be on site no later than 9.00am.
– Clean up at Maketu, starting at 2.00pm. The meeting point is the Whakaue Marae on Maketu Road.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
