Back in October last year the container ship 'Rena' ran aground on a reef about 12 km off the coast of Tauranga NZ.
With the salvage team working daily removing the fuel oil and containers , and dispite some severe weather over the last few months, today the inevitable happened ....
Rena breaks up, spills more debris
http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8399853/rena-breaks-up-spills-more-debris
An emergency response is gearing up after a storm broke up the wrecked container ship Rena further, causing more debris to spill on Sunday.
Salvagers had prepared for all eventualities, including a sinking or a refloat, ahead of a predicted storm this weekend. The ship has been stuck on Astrolabe Reef, off the Tauranga coast in the Bay of Plenty, since October.
"There has been a significant change in the status of the Rena overnight, with the ship separated into two pieces that are now 20 to 30 metres apart. Seas of up to 6m hit the vessel overnight," Maritime New Zealand said.
The forward section of the ship is in its original position on the reef, but the stern section has broken away and is moving significantly, although it is still on the reef.
"There has been a significant discharge of containers and container debris from the ship," Maritime NZ said. "This may result in the three nautical mile exclusion zone being extended."
The National Response Team has been activated to respond to the potential release of oil from the ship and to treat any affected wildlife.
A wave buoy in the centre of the Bay of Plenty monitored by Bay of Plenty Regional Council showed wave heights of nearly 5.8 metres at 6pm on Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday morning. The wave height has dropped to 4.2m in latest readings.
The storm was predicted to produce 7m swells, the biggest since Rena grounded.
The MetService says there will be heavy rain on Sunday in the Bay of Plenty.
I live just across the road from the beach, this is on my 'front door' , you can see the wreck from the sand dunes.
Here's some more info I posted at our VA site .... http://www.vanisleva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12221
Pete.
With the salvage team working daily removing the fuel oil and containers , and dispite some severe weather over the last few months, today the inevitable happened ....
Rena breaks up, spills more debris
http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8399853/rena-breaks-up-spills-more-debris
An emergency response is gearing up after a storm broke up the wrecked container ship Rena further, causing more debris to spill on Sunday.
Salvagers had prepared for all eventualities, including a sinking or a refloat, ahead of a predicted storm this weekend. The ship has been stuck on Astrolabe Reef, off the Tauranga coast in the Bay of Plenty, since October.
"There has been a significant change in the status of the Rena overnight, with the ship separated into two pieces that are now 20 to 30 metres apart. Seas of up to 6m hit the vessel overnight," Maritime New Zealand said.
The forward section of the ship is in its original position on the reef, but the stern section has broken away and is moving significantly, although it is still on the reef.
"There has been a significant discharge of containers and container debris from the ship," Maritime NZ said. "This may result in the three nautical mile exclusion zone being extended."
The National Response Team has been activated to respond to the potential release of oil from the ship and to treat any affected wildlife.
A wave buoy in the centre of the Bay of Plenty monitored by Bay of Plenty Regional Council showed wave heights of nearly 5.8 metres at 6pm on Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday morning. The wave height has dropped to 4.2m in latest readings.
The storm was predicted to produce 7m swells, the biggest since Rena grounded.
The MetService says there will be heavy rain on Sunday in the Bay of Plenty.
I live just across the road from the beach, this is on my 'front door' , you can see the wreck from the sand dunes.
Here's some more info I posted at our VA site .... http://www.vanisleva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12221
Pete.
