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Oil spill is New Zealand's 'worst maritime disaster' Oil spill disaster New Zealand's 'worst in decades'
(about 2 hours later)
An oil spill from a stranded cargo ship off New Zealand has become the country's worst maritime environmental disaster, the government has said. An oil spill from a stranded cargo ship off New Zealand is the country's worst environmental disaster in decades, the government says.
Officials say 300 tonnes of oil may have leaked from the 775ft (236m) Rena, which ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the port of Tauranga on Wednesday. Officials say 350 tonnes of oil may have leaked from the 775ft (236m) Rena, which ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the port of Tauranga on Wednesday.
Bad weather which has halted work to pump oil off the ship is set to worsen. Bad weather has halted work to pump oil off the ship.
Environment Minister Nick Smith said the situation was going to get "significantly worse" in coming days.Environment Minister Nick Smith said the situation was going to get "significantly worse" in coming days.
"This event has come to a stage where it is New Zealand's most significant maritime environmental disaster," he told a news briefing in Tauranga."This event has come to a stage where it is New Zealand's most significant maritime environmental disaster," he told a news briefing in Tauranga.
"It is my view that the tragic events we are seeing unfolding were absolutely inevitable from the point that the Rena ran onto the reef in the early hours of Wednesday morning," he said.
"The government is determined to throw everything possible at minimising the environmental harm of what is now clear to be New Zealand's worst environmental disaster in many decades."
Mr Smith said the rate at which oil was gushing out of the ship had increased "fivefold" since it ran aground.Mr Smith said the rate at which oil was gushing out of the ship had increased "fivefold" since it ran aground.
'Main tank breached' "The government is determined to throw everything possible at minimising the environmental harm of what is now clear to be New Zealand's worst environmental disaster in many decades."
Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) told the BBC that by Tuesday evening between 200 and 300 tonnes had leaked from the main tank of the stricken vessel. Warning to shipping
The oil is moving south-west towards Mt Maunganui, next to Tauranga on North Island, an MNZ spokesman told the New Zealand Herald. The Rena, which was heading to Tauranga port, is still intact but is now listing at 18 degrees.
"One of the main tanks has been breached. It is very significant in the scheme of things," the spokesman said. Maritime New Zealand (MNZ), which is managing the emergency response, said an estimated 200 to 350 tonnes of oil had been released.
By comparison with an oil tanker, the amount of oil on board the Rena is small. Its total consignment is believed to be 1,700 tonnes, and operations to pump what remains out of the tanks are ongoing.By comparison with an oil tanker, the amount of oil on board the Rena is small. Its total consignment is believed to be 1,700 tonnes, and operations to pump what remains out of the tanks are ongoing.
In contrast, the Prestige tanker wrecked on the Galician coast in 2002 leaked an estimated 76,000 tonnes. In contrast, the Prestige tanker wrecked on the Galician coast in 2002 leaked an estimated 76,000 tonnes. Nevertheless, even a small amount of oil can affect wildlife if it comes ashore in the wrong place.
Nevertheless, even a small amount of oil can affect wildlife if it comes ashore in the wrong place. The Bay of Plenty, named by Capt James Cook for the fecundity of the land and the generosity of its people, is home to colonies of birds such as penguins and shags, while frequent visitors include dolphins, porpoises and whales.
It is also a key tourist site; and with New Zealand hosting the rugby union World Cup, hotels are fuller than usual, ensuring that clean-up operations take place in full public view.
New Zealanders take conservation more seriously than people in many other countries, and already oiled birds are being cleaned and restored.
The authorities are asking questions of the Rena's captain as to how he came to crash into a well-known reef. In time, they may raise familiar questions over the flags of convenience system that effectively allows international shipping to operate without a host government having to take responsibility.The authorities are asking questions of the Rena's captain as to how he came to crash into a well-known reef. In time, they may raise familiar questions over the flags of convenience system that effectively allows international shipping to operate without a host government having to take responsibility.
MNZ said the ship was intact but listing at 18 degrees but that the there has been no change to its structural integrity. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate over the next 24-48 hours. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate over the next 24-48 hours, increasing fears the ship might break up, leaking all 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on board and shedding its cargo.
There have been fears the ship might break up in bad weather, leaking all 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on board and shedding its cargo. A navigational warning has been issued in case containers fall into the sea.
A navigational warning has been issued in case containers do fall into the sea. The salvage crew on board were evacuated on Tuesday as a precaution - one navy officer was injured in the operation.
MNZ said one Navy officer was taken to hospital on Tuesday morning after being injured as the remaining crew were being evacuated from the Rena. A tanker which had been offloading the oil had to return to port on Monday for repairs but will resume work once the weather has calmed.
Clumps of heavy oil have already been washing up on the beaches of Mt Maunganui and the nearby community of Papamoa and are expected to reach Tauranga port and beaches south to Maketu. Clumps of heavy oil have washed up on the beaches of Mt Maunganui and the nearby community of Papamoa and are expected to reach Tauranga port and beaches south to Maketu.
MNZ head Catherine Taylor said containing the oil would be difficult, given the Rena's position on a reef and the weather battering the region. Officials have closed affected beaches and warned people to stay away from the shore.
Swells of up to 4m are making the use of oil dispersants difficult.
Ms Taylor told the BBC it would take several weeks to clean up the shoreline.
The Awanuia tanker, which had been offloading the oil, had to return to port for minor repairs on Monday.
Once the weather has calmed, it will resume transferring the oil off the ship, the containers will be removed and then the Rena can be moved off the reef.
Officials have closed affected beaches and residents close to vulnerable coastlines have been told to stay away from the shore and not touch the heavy globs of oil.
"Although it looks bad, the oil in its clumped state is at no risk of going anywhere, and people attempting to remove it without the proper training or equipment risk making the situation worse," said MNZ."Although it looks bad, the oil in its clumped state is at no risk of going anywhere, and people attempting to remove it without the proper training or equipment risk making the situation worse," said MNZ.
About 200 people are involved in the salvage operation, while 300 military personnel are on stand-by to clean up beaches.About 200 people are involved in the salvage operation, while 300 military personnel are on stand-by to clean up beaches.
"People are angry that this could have happened on our doorstep and it could really ruin one of the best beaches around," one local man, Jim Kohu, told Reuters."People are angry that this could have happened on our doorstep and it could really ruin one of the best beaches around," one local man, Jim Kohu, told Reuters.
The area's long, sandy beaches are popular with tourists and surfers. Conservationists have warned the oil spill poses a huge threat to the region's abundant wildlife. A spokesman for the WWF, Bob Zuur, told the BBC that the oil represents "potentially a huge tragedy" for wildlife in the popular tourist area.
"There are thousands of gannets and petrels and shearwaters in the area and hundreds of blue penguins... And we've got dotterels and oyster catchers nesting on the sandy beaches," WWF spokesman Bob Zuur told the BBC. "There are thousands of gannets and petrels and shearwaters in the area and hundreds of blue penguins... And we've got dotterels and oyster catchers nesting on the sandy beaches."
"This oil represents potentially a huge tragedy for the wildlife of the area."
The owners of the ship, Greece-based Costamare Inc, have not given an explanation for the grounding, but said they were "co-operating fully with local authorities" to minimise any damage.The owners of the ship, Greece-based Costamare Inc, have not given an explanation for the grounding, but said they were "co-operating fully with local authorities" to minimise any damage.
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