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Rena – Work Continues

Rena – Work Continues

Photos by Maritime New Zealand

Salvage

The latest reports on the salvage of the Rena still continues as there are over 350 containers remaining on the bow section.   To remove containers has become more difficult for the salvage teams.  The bow section sits in area which makes it difficult for the crane ship Smit Borneo to get close enough to pull some containers off the vessel.   So, tugs have been employed to pull containers overboard with the crane recovers them from the water.

Still More Oil

An oil slick is still visible coming from the submerged section of the stern.   Reports state there might be at least ten tons of oil trapped in pockets in the stern.   Oil continues to wash ashore around Tauranga and Motiti Island.   The water around the wreck is also being checked for toxins.   The decomposing contents of containers can make the water too toxic for divers in normal dive suits.   No reports on how salvage teams will remove the containers still trapped in the stern.

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More Photos of the Rena

More Photos of the Rena

More photos released by Maritime New Zealand of the Rena’s stern sinking including 3D images of the stern’s current position on the reef. Reports state the tug Go Canopus did attempt to reposition the stern section of the Rena so that the barge Smit Borneo could maneuver closer when salvage would resumed.   Divers will inspect the stern to verify if the barge can be position over the submerged section.

Quick Notes

  • The stern took less than 30 minutes to sink.
  • The total number of containers lost overboard is estimated near 250.
  • The stern section still had some 400 containers in the stern when it sank
  • 13 vessels have been deployed in salvage operations

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Rena’s Stern Sinks

Rena’s Stern Sinks

The stern section of the container vessel Rena finally slipped off the Astrolabe reef and sank.   Last report shows just the foremost section of the stern awash in the swells.    Salvage tugs attempted to control which direction where the stern was sinking, but the stern sank before any action could be taken.  The bow section still remains firmly on the reef.

Debris remains to be the largest issue.   Large number of containers have reached the beaches on Matakana Island and Waihi Beach.   The shoreline is covered with plastic bags of milk powder, recycled paper, timber and oil.   The remaining oil trapped deep in the stern section was released and a slick has formed around the reef.   Reports state oil was removed off the beaches around Mount Maunganui, Main Beach and Leisure Island.

More photos on stuff.co.nz

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