Container Release Progressing

Despite working in winds occasionally gusting above 40 knots, salvors have removed fifteen containers from the stern of the cargo vessel Rena, taking the total number of containers removed to 64 on Monday 21st November 2011. Maritime New Zealand Salvage Unit Manager Arthur Jobard said the salvage team had done well to remove so many containers in at times gusty conditions. 

On Sunday 20^th November, work did stop at intervals due to occasional bouts of high winds,according to Mr Jobard. He mentioned containers landing ashore at the Port of Tauranga were being efficiently processed by the container recovery company Braemar Howells. Two of the refrigerated containers that held the remains of rotting food came ashore the company was able to process these and dispose of the contents within two hours.

 

Mr Jobard said oil was still being skimmed from the starboard number 5 fuel oil tank as it reached the hot taps (inspection: see image. Image courtesy: LOC).

 

National On Scene Commander Alex van Wijngaarden said warm-water washing was done on the Mount today to remove residual oil from the rocks.

 

The operations team has also been involved in a presentation on mechanical beach grooming on Matakana Island.

A key focus is the milestone release of around 60 little blue penguins at Mount Maunganui on Tuesday 22^nd November. Final health checks and micro-chipping of the birds due to be released were underway at the oiled wildlife facility. Captain van Wijngaarden said the release was keenly anticipated by the entire oil spill response team.

 

Members of the public can be involved in the ongoing beach clean-ups through the community ‘Adopt-a-Beach' initiative, in which Operation Beach Clean volunteers band together to maintain and monitor high-use areas of beach.