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Race to pump oil from stricken ship
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MARINE crews were preparing yesterday for an operation to extract oil from a container ship that is stranded on a reef near New Zealand.
The 236-meter Liberia-flagged "Rena" struck the Astrolabe Reef, about 22 kilometers from Tauranga Harbour, early last Wednesday, and has been foundering there since.
The ship has been leaking fuel, leading to fears it could cause an environmental disaster if it breaks up further.
Heavy swells and gale-force winds are forecast for the area from today.
The ship has about 1,700 tons of fuel on board, according to Maritime New Zealand, the agency responsible for shipping in the region.
The agency believes that so far, up to 30 tons have leaked into the Bay of Plenty, a spot noted for its fishing, diving and surfing.
The agency said in an update late yesterday that a barge, the Awanuia, had pulled up alongside the Rena and was to begin pumping fuel from the stricken ship within a few hours. The operation is expected to last at least two days.
"The weather is expected to deteriorate in the coming days, so we're working around the clock," the agency said.
Salvage experts and naval architects are on board to monitor the ship, the agency said, and sensors should indicate if the ship is in danger of breaking apart.
About 200 people are working on the response, and New Zealand's defense force has 300 people standing by in case beach cleanups are needed.
So far, eight sea birds - six little blue penguins and two shags - have been rescued from an oil slick that extends about three miles.
Yesterday, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key visited the area and demanded answers.
"This is a ship that's plowed into a well documented reef in calm waters in the middle of the night at 17 knots (31 kph). So, somebody needs to tell us why that's happened," he said.
The owners of the ship, Greece-based Costamare Inc, said they are "cooperating fully with local authorities."
Environmental agency Greenpeace denounced the spill and what it claims is a slow response. "This is an unfortunate illustration of just how difficult it is to deal with oil spills at sea," said spokesman Steve Abel.
The 236-meter Liberia-flagged "Rena" struck the Astrolabe Reef, about 22 kilometers from Tauranga Harbour, early last Wednesday, and has been foundering there since.
The ship has been leaking fuel, leading to fears it could cause an environmental disaster if it breaks up further.
Heavy swells and gale-force winds are forecast for the area from today.
The ship has about 1,700 tons of fuel on board, according to Maritime New Zealand, the agency responsible for shipping in the region.
The agency believes that so far, up to 30 tons have leaked into the Bay of Plenty, a spot noted for its fishing, diving and surfing.
The agency said in an update late yesterday that a barge, the Awanuia, had pulled up alongside the Rena and was to begin pumping fuel from the stricken ship within a few hours. The operation is expected to last at least two days.
"The weather is expected to deteriorate in the coming days, so we're working around the clock," the agency said.
Salvage experts and naval architects are on board to monitor the ship, the agency said, and sensors should indicate if the ship is in danger of breaking apart.
About 200 people are working on the response, and New Zealand's defense force has 300 people standing by in case beach cleanups are needed.
So far, eight sea birds - six little blue penguins and two shags - have been rescued from an oil slick that extends about three miles.
Yesterday, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key visited the area and demanded answers.
"This is a ship that's plowed into a well documented reef in calm waters in the middle of the night at 17 knots (31 kph). So, somebody needs to tell us why that's happened," he said.
The owners of the ship, Greece-based Costamare Inc, said they are "cooperating fully with local authorities."
Environmental agency Greenpeace denounced the spill and what it claims is a slow response. "This is an unfortunate illustration of just how difficult it is to deal with oil spills at sea," said spokesman Steve Abel.
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