Salvage Rena Delayed Due to Weather

Salvage efforts on-board the stricken Rena have been suspended due to dangerous sea conditions. A forecast sea state of swells totalling at least five metres on Monday 31st October and Tuesday 1st November were expected to make it unsafe for the salvors to continue working. Maritime New Zealand Salvage Unit Head Kenny Crawford says that the suspension of activity means there has been no further work on finishing the coffer dam, which is being installed to enable access to the no. 5 starboard tank. This tank holds some 358 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and is still under water. 

 

He says that the salvors have made great progress during the good weather window in recent days, but the swell yesterday forced them to stop work. Operations remain suspended, with the forecast for a significantly rougher sea state in the next few days.

 

Mr Crawford added that salvors have on Monday focused on sealing the tanks and air vents on the vessel in case its condition should worsen.

 

As of Sunday afternoon, more than 1,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil had been removed from Rena, with four of the five main heavy fuel oil tanks empty. However, Mr Crawford says Rena is still in a precarious position, at the mercy of the weather and tides, with the forecast rough weather likely to mean that more containers could be lost overboard.

 

 Salvors Svitzer hope to attempt to fit tracking transponders to the accessible dangerous goods containers and other containers that are the most likely to be lost from the ship.

 

 National On Scene Commander Mick Courtnell says oil leakage from Rena's damaged duct keel and other pockets where it has been trapped is likely to continue and may worsen as the swell and tidal conditions deteriorate.