A CONTAINER ship grounded on a reef off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island succumbed to stormy weather and broke into two on Saturday night, releasing cargo into the water and prompting fears of a new oil spill.
Three months after the Renasailed directly onto the Astrolabe reef, 12 miles from Tauranga harbour, in calm conditions, its stern was torn from the bow after being battered by swells of up to seven metres (23ft).
Officials from Maritime New Zealand predicted that the rear part of the vessel was likely to sink, which could lead to a further oil slick. The front section remains precariously attached to the reef.
Forecasts suggest the worst of the weather is likely to have passed, but heavy seas are expected for the next three to four days.
About 350 tonnes of fuel oil leaked into the sea after the Renawas grounded in October, causing the closure of local beaches and killing as many as 20,000 sea birds in what was described as the country's worst maritime environmental disaster.
An oil salvage operation has drained more than 1,000 tonnes of heavy fuel from the ship’s tanks, but more than 350 tonnes remain on board.
As many as 300 containers were thought to have fallen into the sea, a spokesperson for the salvage operation said. Another 900 are thought to remain on the ship.Most of those lost are likely to sink, including as many as 20 containing creolite from a South Island aluminium smelter.
New Zealand’s minister for the environment, Nick Smith, played down concerns about toxic materials in containers being released, saying most were likely to dilute in the water. – (Guardian service)