Rena Containers Lost in Storm

in General by Jon C — December 16, 2011 at 11:40 am | 0 comments

Two containers were lost over the side of the stricken ship Rena in last night’s stormy weather.

One damaged container, carrying aluminium chairs, has sunk. Another floating container, carrying 18 packets of timber and fitted with a transponder, is being monitored. Once located, it will be towed and placed on board the barge ST60. The search for the sunken container, which is inside the exclusion zone, will continue.

Sensors on board the Rena have detected some additional minor movement, but there is no overall change to the status of the vessel. However, it still remains in fragile state.

This morning’s overflight of the Rena noted two distinct narrow tracks of rainbow sheen about 30-50m wide stretching 1-2km from the ship

Shoreline Clean Up Assessment Teams are checking locations around the harbour and the south end of Matakana today.

Wet sand from heavy rain is limiting oil cleanup on beaches, but rock washing will continue at Mauāo. All areas will be checked, with several reports of fresh tar balls on the beaches, and work is continuing at Matakana.

A damaged cable on the crane barge Smit Borneo has been replaced, but operations continue to be hampered by bad weather.

Soft mooring ropes connecting the Smit Borneo to the Rena parted overnight due to the rough weather, with barge experiencing rolling of 5-6 degrees. The weather peaked about 10pm yesterday with a combined sea state of 6m.

The swell is dying away today and winds from the northeast are turning north-westerly. The patchy weather is set to continue over the next couple of days, with north easterly winds of up to 40 knots (74km/h) expected to peak late Saturday. Fine weather is forecast for Sunday.

Braemar Operations Manager NZ Neil Lloyd says that to date, Braemar teams have recovered more than 200 tonnes of debris from coastal areas as far away as Hicks Bay on East Cape.

So far the Braemar recovery team has investigated over 50 reported sightings of containers or wreckage from the stricken ship, and about 80% of these have turned out to be from Rena.

Surf clubs between Mt Maunganui and Maketu have been given Personal Protection Equipment packs which contain gloves, face masks, grabbers and plastic bags – for any small items found.

While container recovery from the ship to the Port of Tauranga has been held up by weather and technical issues, shoreline work to recover debris has continued on Motiti, White Island and East Cape.

Container Status Report
On board or offshore (not yet recovered to port) 1079
Containers estimated as lost overboard (changed due to containers thought lost - found on board) 86
Containers with known locations 33
Containers recovered from shore 23

Containers on shore being recovered 2
Containers located by sonar 8
Estimated unlocated / unknown containers 53
Containers removed from Rena and recovered to port 203
Containers processed at Truman Lane 38
Recovered cargo 864 Tonnes
Re-used/ recycled 84 tonnes

Night operations at Mauāo yesterday did not reveal any oiled birds, as the rough weather means they are likely to have stayed out at sea last night. A team will check Mōtītī Island today and the key penguin areas will be checked today and overnight looking for any birds which have been oiled or distressed.

Tags: Oil spill Rena