Rena was carrying a variety of materials which caused marine pollution
Daina Shipping Company, as the registered owner of MV Rena which ran aground near Tauranga, New Zealand last October, has been fined $300,000. The cargo ship owner plead guilty to a charge under the Resource Management Act , which relates to the discharge of harmful substances from ships in the coastal marine area.
According to New Zealand Herald, Rena owner appeared in Tauranga District Court today where it was fined $300,000. The charge carried a maximum fine of $600,000 and $10,000 for every day the offending continues. The company, has the overall responsibility for the operation of the ship. The Rena was carrying a variety of materials defined under the Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Regulations 1998 as harmful substances or contaminants.
Substances carried on board defined as harmful included heavy fuel oil and other oils, 32 containers of dangerous goods including 40 tonnes of hydrogen peroxide, 23 tonnes of alkylsulphonic acid, 500 tonnes of ferro-silicon, 5.4 tonnes of trichloroisocyanuric acid, 24 tonnes of potassium nitrate, bulk wine and operational waste. Items aboard classified as contaminants included animal pelts, dairy products, fabrics, cement and machinery parts.
Konstantinos Zacharatos, Daina Shipping representative, speaking from Athens, again apologised on behalf of the company to the Bay of Plenty community and people of New Zealand. “This occurred as a result of human errors. I apologise for the actions of the crew, the accident and any damage caused. This is an accident no one wanted to happen but it did and consequently we take our responsibilities very seriously. Right from the start, Daina Shipping Company has used all resources available to it to address and limit any damage caused,” he said in a statement.
The ship carried more than 1,300 containers. Around 300 tonnes of toxic fuel oil spilled in the ocean, killing thousands of sea birds and fouling beaches up to 100 km (60 miles) from the reef.
