Rena: Mainly Removing Containers

The main work on the grounded container vessel Rena on the Astrolabe Reef near Tauranga, New Zealand, now consists of removing containers, some of which may contain dangerous goods. Salvors have so far removed more than 40 containers from the bow section since the vessel broke in two. An aerial observation flight this morning confirmed a metallic sheen around the wreck with a small amount of dark oil within it. A lighter sheen was observed stretching about 3km from the wreck. 

 

Around 40 oil spill responders are working on clean-up operations at the Mount, on Matakana, Rabbit and Leisure islands and at Kauri Point.

 

A shoreline clean-up assessment team is working north of Kauri Point today.

 

Reports of four beached fridges have been made. They come from the vessel, and more may be following. In total, more than 200 tonnes of waste has been cleared from beaches.

 

Since the weather is stable, there have been no significant changes to conditions on the wreck and the salvage work can continue.