New Zealand: Sea Swells Prevent Rena Dive Operations

Work continued over the weekend on removing debris and parts of containers from the front section of Rena.

Sea swells have prevented dive operations over the past couple of days. It is hoped the sea state will allow dive inspections of the stern section of Rena to resume either this afternoon or, more likely, tomorrow.

Salvors will continue removing wood and milk powder from the front section of Rena by helicopter today.

Weather out at Astrolabe Reef is forecast to ease this morning and remain good for salvage operations for the next few days.

Container and debris recovery operation

Environmental clean-up specialists Braemar Howells advise Matakana Island will be the main focus of clean-up operations this week. Work continues there on consolidating debris into bundles that will then be transported by helicopter to a waiting barge.

Weather permitting, bagged and bundled debris will also be moved by helicopter and barge operations from Motiti Island this week.

Braemar teams will respond to debris reports as they arrive from down the Eastern Bay shoreline.

Logistic support – such as the placement of bins – continues.

Flight surveillance will occur again this week as part of Braemar’s debris-spotting operations.

Oil spill response

Shoreline clean-up assessment teams will be working today in areas east of Whakatane and on Motiti Island

Oiled wildlife teams will also be working in the same areas, checking for affected wildlife.

A team of 26 oil spill responders will be working on Matakana Island and another 38 oil spill responders at Mount Maunganui and Leisure Island today.

The oil spill response team remains ready to escalate in the event of a further significant release of oil from the wreck. Oil spill surveillance flights for the past few days have confirmed a very light sheen emanating from the ship.

[mappress]

World Maritime News Staff, February 7, 2012; Image: Maritime NZ