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Rena Update 3

Rena Update 3

Message from the owners of the Rena

Saturday, 8 October 2011, 11:13 am
Press Release: Costamare

Press statement

Athens, 7th October, 2011

Costamare Inc., parent company of Daina Shipping Co., registered owner of the 3,032 TEU containership RENA, aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the north island of New Zealand, are cooperating fully with local authorities and every effort is being made to control and minimize the environmental consequences of this incident.

The Liberian-flagged containership ran aground at 02:18 hrs (NZ Local Time) on 5th October, 2011 sustaining significant water ingress in two cargo holds.

Classification Society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has been engaged by vessel’s technical managers Ciel Shipmanagement S.A. and through the ABS Emergency Response Service (RRDA) provide technical support by monitoring and verifying the ship’s strength and stability adequacy. Evaluations so far indicate that hull stresses are within allowable limits and that there is no deterioration of the ship’s condition.

Daina Shipping Co. has already contracted Svitzer Salvage BV, one of the world’s leading salvage companies and signed a Lloyd’s Open Form Agreement (LOF).

There has been some leakage of fuel oil. However, minimizing any impact to New Zealand’s coastline is the absolute priority for Costamare Inc. and the current primary focus of the salvage operations is the safe transfer of the vessel’s fuel oil from her tanks into a suitable vessel, which has been arranged to attend to the RENA.

The owners, managers and operators of the RENA, along with the vessel’s crew, are working tirelessly in cooperation with the authorities, dedicated emergency responders and salvage teams to ensure this incident is dealt with as swiftly, comprehensively and professionally as possible.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

The RENA was built in 1990, and has a deadweight of 47,230. At the time of the incident the RENA was carrying 1,351 containers. The operators of the vessel are Costamare Shipping Company S.A. (a dedicated containership operator with over 35 years of experience in the shipping industry), while Ciel Shipmanagement S.A are the technical managers. Both companies are members of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association.

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Rena Update 2

Rena Update 2

Oil Pollution Update
The Rena has released more oil and has formed an oil slick some 12 kilometers long and 500 meters wide.   At least 100 tons of oil was released came from a ruptured tank and it is possible more oil will be released in the following days.  Oil booms and other equipment have yet to be deployed around the Rena.   Skimmers and other equipment  are designed to operate in calm seas only.   Unfortunately, the fair weather is not expected to last. Latest forecasts predict 25-knot winds with one meter swells in the next few days.  Reports state that residents should expect to see some oil to come ashore.

 

Photo: A diver resurfaces from inspecting the Rena. (stuff.co.nz)

 

A news release states lightering operations will begin on October 10 with the focus of removing the heavy oil and diesel fuel from the Rena first.   A naval architect is expected on scene and to evaluate if any other cargo will need to be lightered off the vessel before salvage can begin.   The tugboat Waka Kume out of Auckland has been charted to assist in the salvage operation.   The tug is expected to be on scene by the next day.
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MV Rak Foundered

MV Rak Foundered

The 740 foot long bulk freighter MV Rak Carrier sank off the coast of Mumbai, India. The freighter was bound from Lubuk Tutung, Indonesia to Dahej, India with a cargo of 60,000 tons of coal.  The MV Rak had sent out a distress call that the vessel was sinking and needed assistance.   The Coast Guard and Navy responded sending ships and helicopters to the scene.   All 30 crew on board were rescued.  However, there is conflicting reports if some crew had abandoned ship before being rescued.   Initial investigation into the sinking points to water ingress in the forward hold which caused the MV Rak to sink.

After the sinking, the MV Rak was reported releasing pollution of oil at a rate of one ton per hour.  The vessel had 325 tons of fuel oil and 56 tons of diesel when it sank.   A 12 mile oil slick extends from the freighter and the coastlines are coated in oil patches and tar balls.   Authorities are attempting to control the spill using dispersants.  Pollution control vessels are on scene.    Local fisherman have been told not to fish in the impacted area.   This area had previously been impacted by an oil spill with the sinking of the MSC Chitra in 2010.

Video

Rescue Video from NDTV

 

 

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