Rena Pumping Resumes

in General by Jon C — October 20, 2011 at 2:36 pm | 3 comments

A team of nine salvors aboard the vessel Rena began pumping oil at lunchtime after carrying out safety checks.

Salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson said the safety checks process is an extremely involved and highly complex operation.”

Volunteer beach clean-ups have resumed at the Main Mount Maunganui beach and Maketu, and a site manager training session will be held today at Omanu Beach.

Clean-up operations coordinated through local iwi are also underway along the eastern coastline, where some oil and debris has come ashore as far as the East Cape.

The state of Rena's contyainers | NZDF

National On Scene Commander Ian Niblock says there are no reports of new oil on beaches or from the vessel Rena, however oiled debris has washed up in parts of the East Cape.

“Oil is occurring at natural collection points along the coast from Mt Maunganui to Maketu and we’re using these collection points as a base for ongoing clean-up operations.

“We’re well prepared and have response options in place with more than 6,000 volunteers, along with daily surveillance from air and on shore. We’re also reviewing the beach closures for the Bay of Plenty coastline, aware that the long weekend is coming up. We want people to enjoy themselves, but the safety of the public is paramount.

“We do need to remind local communities to not touch any oil or oiled debris and to report it to 0800 OIL SPILL. It’s also important not to eat seafood in areas where there has been or currently is oil contamination,” Ian Niblock says.

Tags: Oil spill Rena

3 Comments

John Dalley says:

October 20, 2011 at 3:03 pm

any one have an idea why they have not started to take the empty containers off?
damian says:

October 20, 2011 at 4:14 pm

Put simply John, they have better things to do.

And secondly, how do you propose that they do this?
William Stewart says:

October 20, 2011 at 11:05 pm

Boat with crane + barge