New Zealand: Stricken Rena Split into Two

Upon facing severe weather conditions and six-meter swells, Rena split into two spilling cargo and debris into the water.

The separated pieces are now 20-30m apart on the Astrolabe Reef being open to the sea and vulnerable to further damage. The bow section is still firmly grounded but it is open to flooding from the sea and is expected to deteriorate further in the rough conditions. The stern section seems to be on the reef as well but with some movement surrounded by current swells of about 4.5m. There is a great possibility that the stern section will what will make recovering of containers from that section considerably more difficult.

According to the container recovery company Braemar Howells, between 200 and 300 containers of the approximately 830 remaining on the Rena were lost overboard when the two sections of the ship separated. Although poor visibility and rough conditions are disabling provision of the exact number, current reports indicate that 30 containers have been identified with 17 tagged with buoys.

Between 40 and 60 of the lost containers will be probably floating while the rest will have sunk. Those which have already been located will be collected when the sea state allows. A vessel equipped with sonar was dispatched to search for other containers and the priority was to ensure that the shipping lanes remained clear. Several different vessels, including tugs, barges and landing craft, are also available to recover the containers and debris as soon as convenient.

Fuel removal operations were previously being conducted however more than 800 containers and some oil were still on board before the vessel broke up.

The Liberian-flagged ship, owned by Athens-based Costamare Shipping Co. (CMRE), ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef on October 5, near Tauranga, 100 miles southeast of Auckland. The vessel was carrying 2,171 containers and approximately 1,700 metric tons of fuel oil when it struck the reef.

About 350 tons of oil reportedly have leaked from the vessel since the grounding thus it accounts for the worst oil spill that the nation has experienced.

Rena was also carrying four containers of ferrosilicon, a solid substance that can be hazardous when in contact with water and can emit hydrogen.

A more detailed media update is expected to be provided at the press conference scheduled to be held today at the Tauranga Boys College Auditorium, 664 Cameron Rd, Tauranga.

[mappress]

World Maritime News Staff, January 9, 2012; Image: Maritime NZ