The grounded container ship Rena broke-in-two after a strong storm struck during the New Years weekend. The storm with 15 foot swells battered against the hull causing the vessel to split apart some 1.5 meters wide. Divers have not been able to investigate to see if the Rena’s hull is still connected under the surface. Both sections remained firmly aground, but oil that was trapped in the hull has leaked out. Reports state a light oil sheen has been spotted and has come ashore. Debris from containers that have fallen overboard has washed ashore near Tauranga and along the shores of Motiti Island.
The final 319 tons of heavy fuel oil was pumped from the Starboard No. 5 tank on November 13 completing the removal of fuel off the Rena. Salvors will continue to remove any residual oil found in other parts of the vessel. It is believed that some 60 tons of oil may be trapped in the vessel’s keel.
Container Removal
The crane barge Sea Tow 60 took up position at the stern of the Rena and has removed a total of 95 containers from the vessel. The containers can only be removed with good weather conditions. Large swells or high winds cause the greatest risk to operations and have slowed the recovery process. Some 220 transponders have been attached to containers that have either dangerous cargo or at risk of falling into the sea. There are over 1100 containers still on board the Rena.
Environmental Recovery
Authorities have reported that 922 tons of waste has been removed from the area beaches. Crews have used water blasting and washing rocks by hand along the rocky shorelines. The wildlife facility is currently caring for 409 animals. Over 2000 dead birds have been collected.
Editorial
The container vessel Rena has remained intact long enough to allow salvage crews to avoid an environmental disaster. The Rena was predicted not to survive several storms after going aground on October 5 on Astrolabe Reef. The vessel did suffer structural damage with several cracks along its hull, but has remained intact long enough to allow salvage crews to pump some 1000 tons of fuel off the vessel. This is a great accomplishment for the salvage company and their employees. However, the damage to the coastline has already been done. Over 350 tons of oil was spilled from the vessel fouling the coastline around Tauranga, New Zealand. Government and the private sector must be prepared for shipwrecks occurring anywhere in the world.
Latest reports state the Rena is predicted to breakup as conditions worsen. Weather forecasts have swells growing from 3 meters up to 5 meters. Salvage teams have also reported further buckling of the hull along the submerged starboard side just forward of the bridge.
Salvage teams are preparing for the worst. Tracking sensors are being attached to containers with additional tugs are ready to be deployed to recover any containers that fall into the sea. The tug Go Canopus is to stand by if the Rena breaks up. The Go Canopus would tow the stern to shallower water to allow futher oil removal.
Another Oil Spill?
Over 1000 tons of oil has been pumped off the Rena by the salvage team. However, this leaves about 360 tons to be removed from the submerged starboard No. 5 tank. Pumping operations stopped when heavy swells made it to dangerous to continue. Salvors were nearing completion of a cofferdam to access the the submerged tank. Reports state the salvage team sealed the tanks and air vents in case the Rena broke up. If the starboard tank maintains integrity, the risk should be minimal. However, if the tank ruptures, it could double the total oil spilled to 700 tons. Some oil sheen is expected as some oil trapped from duct keel is released. Rough seas are expected to dispurse some of the pollution.
