Pumping
operations on board the Rena were suspended about 11.30pm yesterday due to bad
weather, with rough seas and strong winds of 35 knots (65km/h). Weather in the
area this morning remains poor and will impact on both salvage and oil recovery
operations today. There are currently swells peaking at 4m around the vessel.
While
pumping has been suspended, salvage experts are continuing with other work on
board the vessel, such as –
- cleaning out the engine room,
- getting more equipment on board and
- creating more work space.
About 90 tonnes of oil was able to be pumped off the vessel before pumping was temporarily
halted and the tanker Awanuia was forced to detach and stand off. 9 salvage
crews remain on board, but may be taken off if conditions worsen.
 |
| Helicopters are used to ferry salvors and their equipment 22 kilometres from Tauranga to the stricken container ship Rena |
Good
progress had been made yesterday getting oil off the ship he said.
“Every
drop of oil that we can get off the Rena is one less drop that potentially can
end up in the environment, but given the huge range of variables that can
affect operations, it’s going to be a long, slow process.
“The ship is stable and remains in the same condition as it
was yesterday – with cracks down each side but is still together in one piece,”
Mr Berry
says.
Meanwhile,
National On-Scene Commander Ian Niblock says there have been no fresh reports
of oil on beaches overnight, but that teams of trained responders and
volunteers are ready to swing into action when more oil comes ashore.
The
state of beaches and other oil-affected areas would be re-assessed this
morning, with the possibility of re-opening some beaches if it was safe to do
so.
The
Wildlife Centre reports 207 live birds are now in care,
as well as 3 seals, while 1,290 dead birds and four
dead animals have been recovered.
Source: Maritime New Zealand.
18 October 2011
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