Announcement

**Pathfinder** · October 6, 2011, 09:59 PM

New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

Oil spill clean-up fails, new response ordered

Published: 5:36AM Thursday October 06, 2011 Source: ONE News

The dispersant applied to the oil leak from a grounded cargo ship off the Tauranga coast has proved to be ineffective.

The 236-metre Rena was grounded on the Astrolabe Reef about 12 nautical miles off the coast about 2.20am yesterday and is now on a 10 degree list.

National On Scene Commander Rob Service said an observation flight had identified a significant oil slick remained and it was unknown how much oil had leaked.

Service said despite initial indications that dispersant testing had proved effective, further analysis had confirmed the Corexit 9500 was not dispersing the oil.

Other options are now being considered with the response team preparing for an on-water recovery operation, which will see oil being scooped off the water by teams on vessels using specialist equipment.

"Extra equipment and people will be arriving overnight and tomorrow to run a recovery operation. We must also prepare for a potential shoreline clean-up," said Service.

Meanwhile, there are fears the stricken ship will break up - spilling its 17-hundred tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the sea.

More...

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http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/dangerous-goods-board-stricken-ship-4448766

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'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

updated 15:38 Published: 5:43AM Friday October 07, 2011 Source: ONE News

Maritime authorities are moving too slowly to contain an oil spill near stricken ship Rena off the Tauranga coast, one of New Zealand's leading ecology groups says.

Heavy fuel oil has been leaking from the stranded container vessel about 12km offshore and is threatening sea life and birds.

"We are very concerned to see this incident inexorably moving into a full-scale environmental disaster," said Environmental Defence Society chairman Gary Taylor.

Taylor said he is not convinced that Maritime New Zealand has the situation under control.

"The area is one that has high natural values with many seabirds, marine mammals and fish at risk from contamination, he said.

"Nearby beaches and communities are at risk."

Taylor said he sees no reason why containment should not already be in place and a lot of work needs to be done.

His comments come as more reports are received of birds being killed by the slick.

More...

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http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/environmental-disaster-warning-oil-leak-spreads-4453977

**Pathfinder** · October 6, 2011, 10:26 PM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/images/Incident-area/Rena-closeup1.jpg

Wildlife affected by oil

07 October 2011: 1.30pm

Oiled birds on the water have been confirmed today in relation to the grounding of the vessel Rena off the coast of Tauranga. There have not been any confirmed reports of oiled seals so far, but if members of the public see any affected wildlife please report this to the special phone number 0800 333 771.

Department of Conservation (DOC) and National Oiled Wildlife Response Team members are monitoring the area for any injured wildlife and are also in the field checking on reports from the public.

Members of the public encountering oiled wildlife on the coastline are advised NOT to handle wildlife themselves, or attempt to move or clean the animals. The wildlife team will need precise details of the location, animal species and numbers of any oiled animals encountered. Oiled animals will be transported by the wildlife team.

A specialist oiled wildlife response centre has been established by the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team. Animals affected by oil will be further assessed and treated at the wildlife response centre.

Yesterday four dead oiled birds were observed.

Given the safety concerns, members of the public should not be heading out on the water to assist with recovery of injured animals or go anywhere near the grounded vessel. A 1km exclusion zone remains in place around the vessel.

Any volunteer action should be coordinated through the Incident Command Centre.

Further Information

Oiled wildlife specialists, DOC, Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff and a number of volunteers are this morning monitoring the coastline of Mōtītī Island, Pāpāmoa and Maketū as part of the overall response effort.

DOC has been working with the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team to provide expert advice to the Incident Control Centre on minimising risks to wildlife and protecting wildlife from harm.

Additional staff and volunteers are on standby in case the oiled wildlife response needs to be expanded. DOC staff from across the North Island have been put on standby and a number of boats have also been readied for deployment.

Please see the incident page for more information, questions and answers, fly-over images of the site and information on New Zealand?s oil spill response system.
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Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/News/Media-releases-2011/20111007c.asp

**Pathfinder** · October 8, 2011, 01:19 PM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

08 October 2011: 6.30pm
This media release provides the key points from this afternoon?s media conference.

The salvage operation is very complex and the vessel is in a unique situation ? the front of the vessel is hard on the reef and from the middle of the ship back, it is floating. It is listing at 11 degrees which makes it difficult to work on.
The salvage team engaged is the best in the world.
The salvage operation?s key focus is safely removing the fuel from the vessel and ensuring the impact on the environment is minimised.
There are no cranes on the ship, so specialist heavy lifting equipment has to be brought out. The decks are covered in containers, so there are very few areas to safely land equipment. The salvors are also assessing how to safely refloat the vessel once the oil has been removed, but to do this, a lot of weight (mainly from the containers) must first be removed.
Teams of naval architects are working on the salvage issues and are on board assessing the strength of the ship. The salvage team hopes to start pumping tomorrow evening ? but this depends on the weather and the damage to the ship. These teams are working around the clock.
The Naval vessel Manawanui has arrived. Rotoiti arrived this afternoon and Taupo is due at 7pm, with Endeavour due on Monday. Endeavour can hold around 3000 cubic metres of waste oil.
The oil barge Awanuia is due to arrive no later than tomorrow morning.
Oil is being moved within the vessel to get it as far away as possible from the damaged parts of the hull and in anticipation of it being pumped off the vessel.

Further information

Some new oil was spotted this afternoon, however, this appears to have dispersed.
The oil spill response team has been spraying dispersant on the slick. The dispersant appears to be continuing to work to some extent and we have brought in specialised equipment to measure exactly how this is working.
A 15-strong salvage team is working around the clock and a great deal of equipment has been mobilised.
Preparation for on-water recovery and shoreline cleanup is progressing well.
Shoreline clean-up assessment teams have been on beaches this afternoon, but have not reported any oil on the shore to date.
Two assessment teams are inspecting Matakana Island and Maketū Estuary with a view to possibly using oil booms, and a shoreline cleanup plan is in place. Staff are working with scientists and iwi and are undertaking reef dives off the north coast of Motiti Island with aerial surveys down as far as Waihi Beach.
There are now around 200 people in the oil spill response team, including experts from MNZ, the Department of Conservation, Forest & Bird, Massey and Waikato Universities, and local councils. Specialists from the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and Holland are also involved in the response.
Representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are now working in the incident command centre to help coordinate supply of NZDF equipment and personnel to the response.
300 Defence Force personnel are on standby.
The oiled wildlife centre has five little blue penguins and two shags affected by oil. Washing began at 10am this morning. All birds are doing well. No further oiled animals have been found today.
The wildlife team has 85 personnel in 14 teams working on the response. Centres have been established on Motiti Island and in Te Maunga. There are also three boats doing marine sweeps.
Reports from the public are appreciated. Anyone who sees oil on a shoreline call 0800 OIL SPILL (0800 645 774). Any sightings of oiled wildlife 0800 333 771. Do NOT attempt to clean wildlife yourself.
Response options have been prepared for Motiti Island, Tauranga Harbour and Mayor Island.
A decontamination unit for vessels and people has been set up and waste management organised. The Fire Brigade?s mobile incident command centre has arrived to coordinate this.
Progress on implementation of the salvor?s plan is highly weather dependent. At present the weather conditions for the remainder of the weekend are good. Winds are expected to increase to 25 knots on Monday.
Non-essential crew from the Rena are being taken ashore this evening to make way for those involved in the salvage. The remaining will be used to help move the cargo and pump oil off the vessel.

Further information:

Volunteers

The response team is not currently seeking volunteers. We are aware people want to help and appreciate that. We are working to develop a volunteer register in the next couple of days but we don?t need offers of help just yet.
Public hotlines

Members of the public with information for the oil spill response team can call the public hotline 0800 OIL SPILL.
Members of the public with information for the wildlife response, please call 0800 333 771
Air space exclusion zone

Pilots are reminded there is an exclusion zone over the spill site. There have been a few reports of breaches of the temporary excluded air space established around the Rena that are causing concern for Air Operations staff. A NOTAM (notice to airmen) was issued by the Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday in order to ensure the safety of response personnel undertaking aerial works around the vessel. Yesterday MNZ Air Operations staff ensured that aircraft had vacated the zone to ensure that P3 Orion flights over the vessel could be conducted safely. Aircraft identified operating in the area without approval will be reported to CAA.
Boat exclusion zone

An exclusion zone prohibits all vessels from approaching closer than one kilometre around the stranded vessel, and boaties are also urged to stay well away from any vessel involved in the oil spill response.

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111008c.asp

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Fly-over shots of stranded cargo vessel Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef near Tauranga Harbour.

Midday 8 October.
Image credits: Dudley Clemens

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Fly-over shots of stranded cargo vessel Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef near Tauranga Harbour.

Midday 8 October.
Image credits: Dudley Clemens

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Oiled shag being cleaned by wildlife veterinarian Dr Brett Gartrell and Aimee Forster at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

8 October.
Image credits: Massey University

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Oiled shag being cleaned at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

8 October.
Image credits: Massey University

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Morning briefing at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

8 October.
Image credits: Massey University

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Massey University veterinarians Brett Gartrell and Pauline Canayne feeding an oiled penguin at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

5.30pm 7 October.
Image credits: Massey University

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Massey University veterinarians Brett Gartrell and Pauline Canayne feeding an oiled penguin at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

5.30pm 7 October.
Image credits: Maritime New Zealand

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An oiled penguin being treated at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

5.30pm 7 October.
Image credits: Maritime New Zealand

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An oiled penguin being treated at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

5.30pm 7 October.
Image credits: Maritime New Zealand

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Oiled penguins being treated at the wildlife rehabilitation facility set up at Tauranga.

5.30pm 7 October.
Image credits: Maritime New Zealand

[JPG: 6.3Mb, 4752 x 3168 72ppi]

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Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Incident/gallery.asp

**Sally Furniss** · October 9, 2011, 05:29 PM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

Fears of an ecological disaster have grown with oil now beginning to wash up on Mount Manganui beach, several days ahead of its expected arrival ashore.

Error 404

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/oil-ashore-mount-maunganui-beach-4456061

**Pathfinder** · October 10, 2011, 07:59 PM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads - People are urged to stay off local beaches

11 October 2011: 11.30am
This release includes the latest information available.
Salvage

The Rena is settled on the Astrolabe reef as the list has altered from 11 degrees to 3-6?. An aerial survey of the vessel shows there are no obvious signs of deformation. The ship has sustained some damage from current movements and there is a significant amount of oil leaking from the vessel. This is estimated at 130-350 tonnes from the overflight at first light today.
Oil may also be leaking from the duct keel because of the damage sustained. Salvors are monitoring and assessing this situation. It is inevitable that some oil will reach beaches from Mount Maunganui south to Maketu. Oil is also expected to enter Tauranga Port.
The Rena is still intact, but it is moving around in the weather conditions.
All personnel have now been taken off the vessel as a precautionary measure due to the conditions. The vessel earlier called a mayday as precaution to expedite the safe removal of the remaining crew.
The weather in the area of the ship is poor, with 3-4m swells and winds of 20-25 knots (37-46 kph).
There has been more damage to the front part in the vessel, and additional flooding in the forward holds. However, this will to some degree help to settle Rena.
No containers have come off the vessel. With the improved list the containers have become more stable, as they are now more upright than before. We are monitoring the dangerous goods containers, which are all intact and lashed down, but we will continue to monitor them.

Environmental

Dispersants are being tested on the fresh oil leaking from the ship. There is however sea swells of up to 4 metres which usually makes it difficult for the dispersant to work.
The oil leaking from the ship is currently heading in a southerly direction which means it will move south down the coast. We can?t control where the oil goes, but response teams are well equipped and trained to handle these situations.
Approximately 100 members of our clean up response teams are at Mt Maunganui this morning to clean up the oil off the beach.
There are 2 on water recovery vessels mobilised and they are ready to intercept any oil coming into the harbour.
The Maketu estuary boom is still in place. There is no oil in the Maketu and Matakana estuaries, but with the currents and surge coming in it is possible oil will come into the estuaries even if the boom is there. We are prepared for this and have teams ready to be deployed immediately.

Wildlife

Please do not pick up dead birds on the beach. Please call 0800 333 771 with the location of the bird/s and we will send trained teams to re-cover the birds. We need to keep counts of the birds to keep track of what species have perished so please report them to us.
Please DO NOT walk your dog on the beach. This can be harmful to your pet and yourself.
There are 12 teams from Mt Maunganui to Maketu scouring the area for oiled wildlife.
There are no fresh reports of any more oiled wildlife.

Iwi

We have two iwi liaisons officers at the Incident Command Centre to keep local Maori informed of the situation, response, and progress. We are grateful for their assistance and we will continue to keep iwi informed.

Note:

There will be a rotation of some key personnel involved in the operation. Nick Quinn will take over as National On Scene Commander from midday today, and Ian Niblock as Deputy On Scene Commander. Rob Service and Alex van Wijngaarden have been working around the clock and this rotation does not cause interruption to our response. This is standard operating procedure.

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111010f.asp

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Media advisory - People are urged to stay off local beaches


11 October 2011: 12.00pm


People are urged to stay off local beaches, as the Rena oil spill response team is receiving reports that people are playing with oil and attempting to clean it up.


Oil is not only toxic, but people doing this risk spreading the oil further and creating more harm to their local environment.

Our oil spill response teams are the best equipped to pick up oil as it comes ashore.

Anyone wishing to help the oil recovery effort or report oil should contact 0800 645 774.

People ?playing? with oil are also risk spreading it to their homes and other areas.

Pet owners are also urged to keep their animals off the beach. Anyone concerned their pet may have been affected by oil should contact their local vet.

Sightings of any oiled wildlife should be reported to us on 0800 333 771.

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111010g.asp

**Pathfinder** · October 12, 2011, 10:34 AM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads - People are urged to stay off local beaches

Rena losing containers as heavy swells wash her deck on the starboard side.
12 October
Image credits: Maritime New Zealand

Rena lists in heavy morning seas. Taken from HMNZS Endeavour.
12 October
Image credits: New Zealand Defence Force

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Incident/gallery.asp

Rena response (media update 11)



12 October 2011: 6.30pm


The Rena has suffered substantial structural failure, with a crack appearing in the number three cargo hold on the starboard side. This has been caused by the movement of the vessel as the stern, which has remained afloat, shifting with the waves, while the front part of the ship remains stuck on the reef.

There is a concern that the stern of the vessel may break away. The salvors have three tugs mobilised either to hold the stern on the reef while further effort is made to remove the oil, or to tow the stern to shallow water where they will remove the oil. Naval architects are working on possible scenarios. Iwi are also involved in advising on any cultural issues regarding moving or sinking the ship.

A number of containers have now come off the vessel. Those remaining continue to move, making it extremely dangerous for salvage crews to work on board. Six vessels have been mobilised to intercept the drifting debris in the water.

MNZ National on Scene Commander Nick Quinn says he is confident that he has the people, equipment and plans to cope with the increasing scale of the Rena response.

"Our experience means we have been preparing for a worst case scenario right from the start. We already have hundreds of well trained responders from a number of organisations across land, sea and air operations, and have access to more if we need them.

"Our priority is the here and now, and cleaning up the oil. However this is not a quick fix so we are here for the long haul," Mr Quinn says. "Until now we have had a light oiling of beaches – this will significantly increase as more oil washes ashore over the coming days.
“We are continuing our plans for getting people onto the beach for the massive cleanup task.”
Oil

There will be substantial oil on the beaches, in the water and on the foreshore. This is expected to result in around 10,000 tonnes of sandy waste.
There are 20 teams on the beaches, comprising about 250 people, cleaning up the oil.
Four vessels are in the harbour to deal with any oil that may enter the area.
The ship's fuel tanks look intact and are sealed units. The released oil may have come from the duct keel or an aft tank. This will not be known till the vessel can be resurveyed.
Navy and Air Force helicopters are undertaking surveillance flights to monitor the movement of oil at sea.
There will be a drop of Personal Protective Equipment to iwi groups to allow monitoring of the foreshore in their areas. This has been arranged through the iwi liaison team.

Exclusion zone

The exclusion zone around the ship has been extended. The new area runs from Mount Manganui to Matata and extends out beyond Motiti to Astrolabe Reef to ensure that all vessels avoid areas affected by oil and containers. This is approximately 20 kilometres off shore. The situation is expected to continue for some time and the exclusion zone is being monitored. Anyone found breaching the exclusion zone could be fined.
Boat owners are reminded that fuel oil that has escaped from the Rena may stick to boat hulls and gear and will need to be cleaned off in a controlled environment.

Containers

Any containers that wash ashore remain the property of the owners or insurers. Anyone found to be attempting to remove the containers or take goods from them will face prosecution.

Public health

Health warnings are being issued to prepare residents for worsening smells from the oil.
The oil spillage on the beaches, combined with the current weather conditions, has produced in a noticeable smell in some areas. This smell is likely to diminish over a period of one or two hours from the time the oil reaches the beach.
Some people in the vicinity may experience some physical discomfort. They are advised to shut windows and avoid the immediate vicinity of the beaches and all immediate or secondary contact with the oil spillage.
If anyone experiences any discomfort they should move away to an area of fresh air.

Wildlife

There are now 36 field teams currently out working on the wildlife response. From Matakana Island to Maketu, the teams are scouring the area for oiled wildlife.
In total, the Wildlife Response Centre has 41 birds in its care – a mixture of shags, petrels, dottrels and little blue penguins.
Three seals are also at the wildlife facility, with two more on their way to the centre.
200 dead birds have so far been collected.
The response team is currently setting traps for seals to check them for oil.

MNZ is also warning the public of scam callers after reports to the Wildlife team reporting people receiving phone calls asking for donations.

Please do not pick up dead birds on the beach. Please call 0800 333 771 with the location of the birds and we will send trained teams to recover the birds. We need to keep counts of the birds to keep track of what species have perished so please report them to us.
Please DO NOT walk your dog on the beach. This can be harmful to your pet.

Volunteers

We need volunteers to help with the beach cleanup. A volunteer beach clean up programme has been put in place.
Beach liaison volunteers will be on beaches tomorrow morning to advise potential volunteers and the public what the plan is.
Training of beach clean up supervisors will be carried out tomorrow morning.
If you have already registered by phone or email to be involved, the incident control centre will contact you sometime in the next three days to arrange rostering.
If you want to volunteer and haven’t done so yet, please call 0800 645 774 or email iccrena@gmail.com

Community briefings

There are five community briefings planned over the next three days in the following areas:

Maketu, Wednesday 12 October, 6pm, Maketu Fire Station
Mt Maunganui, Thursday 13 October, 6pm, Mt Maunganui College
Papamoa, Thursday 13 October, 1pm, Papamoa Sport and Recreation Centre
Mt Maunganui, Friday 14 October, 1pm, Mt Maunganui College
Papamoa, Friday 14 October, 6pm, Papamoa Sport and Recreation Centre

More community briefings are being planned. Visit www.maritimenz.govt.nz/incident for more information.

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111012c.asp

**Pathfinder** · October 13, 2011, 11:11 AM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads - People are urged to stay off local beaches

Rena update (update 15)


13 October 2011: 7.00pm

MNZ National On Scene Commander Nick Quinn says the response from the community to the unfolding situation from the stranded vessel Rena has been tremendous.

?We have enormous support from the local community who have turned up willing and ready to work,? Mr Quinn said.

?This is hugely appreciated and demonstrates the passion the local community have for their area. We are working hard to minimise the impact of this spill on this region.?

There were 500 people on the beaches today cleaning up the oil and assessing the potential impacts on shorelines around the Bay of Plenty.

?Cleaning up the oil remains our priority but we are now dealing with three types of pollution ? the containers, the contents of the containers, and the oil. We have restricted beach access to allow this operation to be undertaken effectively.?

Mr Quinn said the oil spill response team was prepared for a long clean-up process.

?This will go on for some time, and the same beaches will get re-oiled and re-cleaned on a daily basis. This is where it gets exasperating but we have experience in this and will just continue working through the process.?

There have been offers to the oil spill response team of heavy equipment to assist the clean-up operation, however Mr Quinn said experience had proven this could push oil into the sand and cause further damage to the environment.

?We are considering all oil spill response options, but right now the basic shovel is top of the list, in terms of removing oil from the beach.?

Mr Quinn reminded members of the public to stay away from the beaches unless they had already registered as volunteers. This was to protect public safety, and also to allow clean-up crews to get on with the job at hand.
Clean-up operations

A total of 95.45 tonnes of solid waste and 6 tonnes of liquid waste had been taken to the waste transfer station as at 5pm.
The oily waste is being collected by two approved waste companies and managed through a consented waste management plan.
Members of the public are reminded not to collect oil themselves, but to work through the official response team. This will ensure waste is disposed of correctly.
Beach access has been restricted in the area from Mount Maunganui to Maketu Point, including the Maketu Estuary.
The heaviest concentration of oil coming onto the beach has been at Papamoa.
The effectiveness of the Corexit 9500 dispersant has been shown as insufficient to justify aerial application to the spilled oil. We have consequently ended the aerial application trials and will continue to assess all response options.
There are two skimmer barges working in the harbour to pick up flotsam and another two will be in operation tomorrow to collect oil.

Salvage

A salvage inspection team was winched aboard the Rena this morning to check the damage to the vessel and assess whether its power systems were still intact.
The priority was to make sure the vessel was safe to be boarded. The team has assessed the vessel as safe to operate from.
The hoses used to transfer the oil from ship to ship are reportedly largely undamaged and the pumps have no major damage. However, the vessels auxiliary power system is probably not operable.
The vessel is now on a list of about 22 degrees to starboard. The aft of the vessel remains free floating at high tide while the bow is pinned on the reef. There is a large spilt in the port and starboard hull.
There are helicopters, rigid inflatable boats, tugs and Navy ships all standing by to assist the salvage operation.
It is estimated that about 350 tonnes of oil has leaked from the Rena.

Containers

88 containers have been reported as fallen from the ship ? 20 have come ashore.
One container of dangerous goods containing Alkylsuphonic liquid (UN2586), which is water soluble, has been lost from the ship. It is not considered a significant health risk. It may cause some localised effects to the seabed ? we will be monitoring this.
Please note earlier reports today that the container held Ferrosilicon were incorrect. However, our information is that if the Ferrosilican on board the vessel comes into contact with water we would see significant quantities of gas released in a short period of time.
At this time, salvage company Svitzer is responsible for collecting the containers in the water. The New Zealand Police and the Fire Service are assisting in managing the containers that have reached the shoreline. A company which specialises in overboard container management will take over once plans have been approved.
Members of the public should not touch containers that reach the shore, or any of the goods that have come free from the containers. Members of the public should please report container sightings with exact location details, to 0800 OIL SPILL.

Wildlife

Mr Quinn said it was heart wrenching to see the state of some of the birds coming into the centre.
?The mortality rates are starting to increase and there are several hundred dead birds yet to be collected by the wildlife teams who are working methodically to deal with the oiled birds coming in,? Mr Quinn said.
The team had also been pre-emptively catching rare New Zealand dotterels, which would be resettled in a special area in the wildlife facility.
There are now about 70 birds, four seals and 13 dotterels in the centre.
500 dead birds have been recovered.

Iwi

1600 units of protection equipment have been sent to iwi in eight different locations to provide to 1000 volunteers. This included 200 units sent to Motiti and 500 units to Matakana.
An 0800 number has been set up as a direct link to the Iwi Liaison Team to respond to any issues or concerns from Iwi Maori.
The number is 0800 AWHI ME or 0800 294 463.

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/m.../20111013e.asp

**Pathfinder** · October 14, 2011, 08:28 AM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads - People are urged to stay off local beaches

Rena salvage: Preparations to pump oil


Last updated 20:06 14/10/2011

Excerpt:

Andrew Berry, of the Marine Pollution Response Service, told a packed meeting at Papamoa College this afternoon that it appeared the cracks on either side of the ship had now joined.

All that was holding the Rena together was its position on the reef and some internal structure, Berry said.

It comes as the Philippine embassy released a statement this afternoon expressing its sadness over the Rena's grounding and the unfolding oil spill that occurred in the days that have followed.

Phillipine Minister and Consul Giovanni Palec arrived in Tauranga on Wednesday and is still in the city.

He has met with the crew, who told him they have been treated kindly and fairly by New Zealand authorities.

The 19 Filipino crew members left the country after they were interviewed and had their statements taken.

"The Filipino people fully understand what the people of New Zealand, especially those in the Tauranga communities are going through right now," the statement said.

The embassy said reports of the Filipino community being harassed in Tauranga were "not reflective of the general sentiments of the public in Tauranga".
...
Clean-up teams are being prepared in Whakatane for oil washing up there from the stricken ship Rena.

More than 350 tonnes of oil has spilled into the ocean since the 47,000-tonne cargo ship grounded on the Astrolabe Reef off the Tauranga coast on October 5.

Full text:

Stuff

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/rena-crisis/5783705/Rena-salvage-Preparations-to-pump-oil

**Pathfinder** · October 14, 2011, 08:49 AM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads - People are urged to stay off local beaches

Wildlife death toll rises 

KIRSTY JOHNSTON

Last updated 20:17 14/10/2011

Oil from the stricken ship Rena, which grounded on the Astrolabe reef last Wednesday, has killed at least 1000 birds with wildlife experts fearing the casualty list will grow.

"It's estimated that what we are seeing is only a small percentage [of birds killed]," wildlife technician Pauline Conayne said earlier.

The high death toll was having a serious effect on workers at the makeshift wildlife centre outside Tauranga, with those in charge considering bringing in a counsellor to help people.

"It's not something we can ever prepare ourselves for," Conayne said.
"When you see pictures it's upsetting, but when you're here it really touches your heart."

More...

Stuff

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/rena-crisis/5787022/Wildlife-death-toll-rises

**Pathfinder** · October 14, 2011, 09:03 AM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads - People are urged to stay off local beaches

Rena update (update 18)

14 October 2011: 7.30pm


The volunteer programme launched today to clean up beaches affected by oil and debris from the grounded container vessel Rena is proving very successful. 


"This is a unique situation, volunteers have not been used before in oil spill clean-ups and it shows the level of community commitment to this significant environmental issue," said National On Scene Commander Nick Quinn.

"It's a hard slog, back-breaking work and the volunteers are turning up and getting on with the job and the beaches are looking much cleaner."
Mr Quinn said a lot of the success could be attributed to those people who had organised the training of the volunteers and local iwi.

Teams could be seen today on their hands and knees rolling up the oil, a method that limits the amount of sand that gets caught with the oil and wasted.

There are now 3,000 volunteers registered on the database. Tomorrow there will be 1,000 people doing clean-up work across seven locations.
"We are now ahead of the oil and we are keeping an eye on the wider coastline, so we can get people to those areas before the oil arrives."
Mr Quinn also mentioned the very successful collaboration between Maritime New Zealand and Massey University for the wildlife response.

"We have trained for such an event over a period of years. This has enabled us to quickly swing into action to respond to the oiled wildlife."
Oiled Wildlife Response Coordinator, Kerri Morgan said the team was having great success with pre-emptive capture of the rare New Zealand Dotterels.

"These are an endangered species. There are only 1,500 left in total in New Zealand and 100 in this area. We have now caught 23 but are hoping to capture 60 to ensure the sustainability of this population."
Ms Morgan said that individual aviaries are being built at the oiled wildlife centre which require sand floors and need to be predator proof.

There are teams out at night to capture oiled little blue penguins before they go into their burrows, so they can be taken to the centre and treated.

Mr Quinn said while it was a difficult and tiring for responders, staff are being rotated and stress levels have been reduced by the immense volunteer support and the response to safety messages by the community.

Clean-up operations

A total of 376 tonnes of waste has now been taken to the transfer station. The waste is being collected by two companies working through a consented waste management plan.
Potentially toxic waste from the containers is also being disposed of through the consented waste management process.
Predicted westerly winds pushed oil away from the beaches today but will extend the area of the oil spill response out to the east.
Training is being coordinated for teams based in the eastern regions, and forward operations bases are being established. This will ensure the response is ready for oil grounding there.
Beach access is restricted between Mount Maunganui and Maketu Point, including the Maketu Estuary. This is to minimise, as much as possible, further environmental damage.
There is no evidence of any fresh discharges of oil today or overnight.

Salvage

Salvage teams were winched on to Rena this morning.
The salvage team is attaching four platforms to the port side of the vessel. The platforms will provide a flat surface for fuel pumping operations from the port tanks.
The team has a sound plan in place and has effectively choreographed the operation ? each team member is clear on what they need to do.
Evacuation teams remain on standby to evacuate these teams if required. It is a challenging and potentially dangerous job ? but the salvage team we have is the best in the world and they have human safety as their number one priority.
The Awanuia crew has been undertaking a load of rehearsals to ensure they are ready to get close to the vessel safely to transfer the oil. This may begin as early as tomorrow.
The Awanuia crew has been undertaking a load of rehearsals to ensure they are ready to get close to the vessel safely to transfer the oil. This may begin as early as tomorrow.
The oil is now cold, and dense and like marmite in consistency. The salvage crews have revised their plans to remove the oil as the vessel no longer has power.
It is believed there is still 1,346 tonnes of oil on board the vessel ? 770 tonnes in the port 5 tank, 356 tonnes in the starboard 5 tank and 220 tonnes in the settling tanks. The vessel had 1,673 tonnes to begin with.

Containers

The salvage company, Svitzer is responsible for collecting the containers in the water. They report they have identified 35 of the 88 that have fallen overboard, and 14 have been recovered.
Members of the public should not touch containers that reach the shore, or touch or consume any of the goods that have come free from the containers.

Volunteers

More than 3,000 people have registered to volunteer, many through the website www.boprc.govt.nz/oilspillvolunteers. People can also register to volunteer at the Omanu and Mount Maunganui surf clubs.
The training and equipping of these volunteers is going well and there will be around 1,000 volunteers on the ground tomorrow, working from seven locations.
Volunteer coordinators at the incident command centre are working through a plan to roster these volunteers, so their assistance can be used effectively.

Public health

People are advised to not eat fin fish, shellfish or whitebait from affected areas, including the harbour.
Health warnings are being issued to prepare residents for worsening smells from the oil.
The oil spillage on the beaches, combined with the current weather conditions, has produced a noticeable smell in some areas. This smell is likely to diminish over a period of one or two hours from the time the oil reaches the beach.
Some people in the vicinity may experience some physical discomfort. They are advised to shut windows and avoid the immediate vicinity of the beaches and all immediate or secondary contact with the oil spillage.
There is further information for the public on health issues arising from the oil spill at www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/rena_public.
Anyone with symptoms they are concerned about should contact Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Wildlife

There are a total of 92 oiled birds at the wildlife facility being cared for.
There are now 17 rare dotterels in captivity at the centre ? they have been caught to protect them from the oil. There are only 100 dotterels known to be in the Bay of Plenty region ? the wildlife team is aiming to capture 60 of these, to ensure the population is protected.
There are only about 1,500 dotterels in existence. A special aviary is being built at the wildlife facility to cater to the needs of these rare birds.
The total of dead birds has now reached 1,000.
Volunteers who want to assist the wildlife response should contact the wildlife team on 0800 333 771.

Booms in Waipu Bay and Waikereao Estuary

Recreational boaters should take care when in and around Waipu Bay and Waikereao Estuary. There are booms in both locations to minimise the impact of the oil spill.
The Waipu Bay boom extends across the mouth of the inner harbour from the boat ramp to the Tauranga Bridge marina.
There are two booms in place in Waikeraro Estuary near the Tauranga underwater club.
The booms are bright orange and will be visible during daylight hours. Caution should be exercised when there is low light and at night.

...

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111014c.asp

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Reserve soldiers from Auckland cleaning Papamoa Beach after oil from the grounded vessel Rena reaches the shore. Private Clayton Mills and Lance Corporal Daniel Moyle rake oil for collection from the beach surface.

13 October
Image credits: New Zealand Defence Force

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<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><TBODY><TR><TD>
Oil booms being prepared at Maketu Estuary.

13 October
Image credits: Maritime New Zealand

[JPG: 5.73Mb, 4752 x 3168 72ppi]

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Clean-up crews hard at work cleaning the shores on Papamoa Beach.

13 October
Image credits: Maritime New Zealand

[JPG: 6.9Mb, 4752 x 3168 72ppi]

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...

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Incident/gallery.asp

**Pathfinder** · October 25, 2011, 10:32 AM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

Rena update (update 52)

25 October 2011: 6.00pm

Nearly half of the oil left on board the grounded container ship Rena in Tauranga has now been pumped off to the bunker barge Awanuia.
Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) Salvage Unit Manager, Bruce Anderson said 164 tonnes had been pumped off the ship over the past 24 hours, the highest daily rate to date. This brings the total amount of oil pumped off the ship to 645 tonnes, with about another 700 tonnes still on board.

All of the oil pumped off so far has come from the port number 5 tank, and pumping began this afternoon on the three tanks in the engine room which together hold around 250 tonnes of oil. This oil is being pumped into port number 5 tank and then out to the Awanuia.

?It is great news that we are pumping from the tanks in the engine room now too,? he said. However, he also emphasised that getting the oil out of the submerged starboard number 5 tank which holds 358 tonnes of oil remained a significant challenge.

National On-Scene Commander Rob Service said there had been no more significant leakages of oil from the ship. The small oil spill of around 5 to 10 tonnes from Saturday night was still in the area of the Rena and breaking up naturally in the water.

?We are tracking the oil which is heading north. Our predictions, however, are based on current weather and tide conditions and these are changing rapidly. We are continuing to model and remodel the movement of the remaining oil and where it might end up.?

Mr Service said a small amount could reach the shorelines of Tūhua/Mayor Island and the Coromandel, south of Whangamata. ?If it does reach the shorelines, it will have been in the water for five or six days and will have broken down naturally quite a bit. What people may see are small patties or balls of tar.?

Mr Service said teams were planning for any potential impact and the rapid deployment of shoreline assessment officers. An offer of 200 volunteers for beach clean-up duties had already come in from Newmont Waihi Gold, the company that runs the mine in Waihi. A number of volunteers in the Coromandel had also already been trained.

?We have also already sent a Department of Conservation-led wildlife team to Mayor Island. They are working with iwi to assess the situation there and wildlife officers are now being permanently stationed on the island.?

The wildlife team reported that there was no oil on the beaches on Mayor Island. However, the team has collected two oiled birds ? a fluttering shearwater and a little blue penguin.

?We think the birds may have been oiled at sea and come in at night,? said Oiled Wildlife Response Manager Kerri Morgan. The oiled birds have been taken back to the Wildlife Response Centre at Te Maunga for treatment.

A stabilisation site had now been set up on the island to deal with any more oiled wildlife findings.

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/news/media-releases-2011/20111025c.asp

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Updated 3.30pm 25 October 2011

View wildlife images on our incident gallery
Wildlife

What oiled wildlife been identified?

The total number of live birds being treated or in care at Wildlife Response Centre is 379. This includes the 60 New Zealand dotterels that were caught pre-emptively. As at 9am on 25 October there were:

clean birds: 60 NZ dotterels, 1 shearwater, 1 tern, 3 pied shags and 206 little blue penguins
oiled birds: 108 little blue penguins.

The centre has washing and treatment facilities and has on-site vets and ornithologists. Long-term enclosures are being built to house the birds until their habitats are safe for them to return to.

The Oiled Wildlife Response Team set up a wildlife response staging area around Te Kaha on 20 October, to support roving response teams that are working right around the coast from Opotiki to Te Araroa.

A total of 1,370 dead birds have been identified to date. Post-mortems are being carried out on the birds to determine if oiling is the cause of death.

Are any endangered species in the area?
Yes, the endangered New Zealand dotterel has been affected. There are 60 dotterels in captivity at the centre ? they have been caught to protect them from the oil.

The wildlife team set 60 of the 100 adult dotterel in the Bay of Plenty as the target to be caught to ensure the sustainability of this population. It is extremely important that these precious birds are only handled by the team of trained wildlife experts.

There are only about 1,500 dotterels in existence. A special aviary has been constructed at the wildlife facility to cater to the needs of these rare birds. Dotterel can live for 25 years and although eggs are being abandoned, they will be able to breed again next year. Any chicks will be recovered.

How are the penguins doing?
Oiled Wildlife Response Manager Kerri Morgan said it was important to monitor the penguin’s health and condition, especially at feeding times. The penguins are all doing really well and have a great fighting spirit.

They are fed with either sprats or anchovies, but it is important to ensure that none of the natural oils from the fish get on the birds’ feathers, as this can damage their natural waterproofing. The penguins get fed twice a day and eat five to seven fish per feeding. They also have one swim a day. This lets them condition and preen their feathers, which is crucial to their re-waterproofing.

New enclosures are being built for little blue penguins at the Wildlife Response Centre at Te Maunga. The builders aim to have three of the planned 10 aviaries finished by Tuesday afternoon. Each aviary can house up to approximately 25 penguins, and has an indoor pool and communal areas for the penguins to preen, feed and swim. The enclosures will be able to house them more comfortably long term. It is too early to say when they can be released, but we want to ensure all the penguins are healthy and well nourished before this takes place.

Who is working on the oiled wildlife response?
There are 140 people in 39 teams in the field working on the wildlife response. They are scoring kilometres of coastline looking for oiled wildlife. The response team has been setting traps for seals to check them for oil ? no oiled seals have been confirmed to date.
Teams have been working on beaches from Mount Maunganui to Maketu spit and on Mōtītī and Tūhua islands. They have compiled information on species and numbers to be expected and monitoring the condition of the live birds they see. They have also been conducting night operations to recover little blue penguins.
DoC vessel Matariki has been patrolling the coast and inspecting some of the smaller islands.

Many reports of seals have been received and the seals are being checked. Wet seals are easily mistaken for oiled ones and healthy seals will be left on the beach. A fur seal plan has been developed in the event that seals become affected by oil. This plan covers people, equipment and facilities as well as the possible capture of seals.

What wildlife is in the area?
Department of Conservation (DoC) has advised that there are Petrels, Little Blue Penguins and a seal colony in the stretch of coastline affected by oil. DoC and the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team (NOWRT) are monitoring the situation and have equipment and personnel standing by.

Who is NOWRT?
NOWRT is trained, managed and coordinated by specialists at Massey University's New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre in Palmerston North, under contract to MNZ. Its members include vets, pathologists and wildlife technicians. Regional councils around the country also contribute personnel.

What specialist equipment does NOWRT have to deal with any oiled wildlife?
NOWRT has specialised units, which are housed in a standard shipping container, can be transported by road, rail or sea to deal with wildlife during an oil spill. Each unit has three wash stations at which oiled birds and other wildlife can be carefully washed and rinsed ? a process that takes about 40 minutes.

Where are the oiled wildlife centres located?
Oiled wildlife response centres have been established on Mōtītī Island, Te Kaha and in Te Maunga. The wildlife team working on the response includes veterinarians, expert responders and ornithologists with experience in the capture and treatment of oiled birds. Beach searches on Mōtītī Island and the Maketu Peninsula are being undertaken and there are also three boats doing marine sweeps.

The Oiled Wildlife Response Team established a wildlife response staging area around Te Kaha on 20 October to support the roving response teams that are working right around the coast from Opotiki to Te Araroa.

A behind-the-scenes tour of the Oiled Wildlife Response facility in Tauranga with Dr Brett Gartrell.

<IFRAME height=315 src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d8JmbfU4GgA" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>

Can I still walk my dog on the beach?
People should avoid walking dogs on the beach and should not enter any restricted areas. If dogs or other domestic animals do get oiled, please call the wildlife response team for assistance on 0800 333 771.

What should I do if I find some oiled wildlife?
Members of the public encountering oiled wildlife on the coastline are advised NOT to handle wildlife themselves, or attempt to move or clean the animals. The wildlife team will need precise details of the location, animal species and numbers of any oiled animals encountered. Oiled animals will be transported by the wildlife team.

Given the safety concerns, members of the public should not be heading out on the water to assist with recovery of injured animals or go anywhere near the grounded vessel. An exclusion zone remains in place around the vessel

If members of the public see any affected wildlife please report this to the special phone number 0800 333 771.

How can the public help?
Any volunteer action should be coordinated through the Incident Command Centre. Volunteers who want to assist the wildlife response should contact the wildlife team on 0800 333 771.
Warning

MNZ is also warning the public of scam callers after reports to the Wildlife team reporting people receiving phone calls asking for donations.

Just a moment...

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Incident/wildlife.asp

**Sally Furniss** · October 25, 2011, 10:46 AM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

Reports Rena has broken up 'false' - Maritime NZ

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:38p.m.

By Angela Beswick with NZN

Contrary to some reports this evening, the stricken container ship Rena has not broken up.

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Reports-Rena-...#ixzz1boDIWx00

**Sally Furniss** · January 1, 2012, 07:12 PM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

Rena breaks in two after storm

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:56p.m.

Salvors are checking under the wrecked container ship Rena on Monday after it broke into two pieces during a storm at the weekend, and are also looking for lost containers.

Onshore, more oiled birds and debris have turned up.

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Rena-breaks-i...#ixzz1iFsGIUkI

**Pathfinder** · January 2, 2012, 01:05 PM

Re: New Zealand - 'Environmental disaster' warning as oil leak spreads

Rena split in two, remains on reef

A large crack in the hull of the ship has widened after storms had swept through the area between Christmas and New Year. Photo / Maritime NZ

6:50 PM Monday Jan 2, 2012

The stricken cargo ship Rena has split in two but remains firmly wedged on the Astrolabe Reef off the coast Tauranga.
...
The vessel may still be joined together under the surface and divers would investigate as the weather permitted.
...
Four oiled blue penguins were collected in the past two days, which would be sent to the wildlife recovery centre later this week.

One oiled blue penguin was found dead.

Full text:

Rena split in two, remains on reef - NZ Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10776357

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