Rena Update: Salvors Scramble to Pump Oil From Ailing Ship

As of early Tuesday morning in New Zealand, improved weather conditions will allow for salvage teams to resume fuel pumping from the grounded container ship, Rena, after the 24-hour operations had to be suspended due to high winds and swells in the Bay of Plenty.

Salvage teams have been working 24 hour shifts in desperate attempts to remove the highly viscous remaining oil fuel on the stricken ship.  It is estimated that, so far, 90 tons have been unloaded, still leaving 1,300 tons aboard.  Maritime New Zealand still claims that they believe these tanks are safe unless the Rena breaks up. 

Although fuel transfer had ceased as a result of the weather conditions, the team continued other work on the ship, like cleaning the engine room, compiling additional equipment, and creating more space.  The crews have described the state of the Rena as bracing themselves for her death, as she creaks and groans while sitting on the reef.

The NZ Herald reported “pancake-size” blogs of oil have now been found at White Island, and are expected to arrive at East Cape in a few days’ time.  Oil has already ravaged the Bay of Plenty coastline.  Salvage Unit Manager, Bruce Anderson, said that there was some oil not contained in the fuel tanks which was believed to have spilled on Monday evening. 

Another MNZ salvage official, Andrew Berry, says that they have plans to utilize a booster pump to speed up the fuel transfer process, adding that every drop off of oil they can get off the Rena is one less drop to potentially reach the environment.  He said that the ship is somewhat stable for now, but with the huge range of variables that can affect these operations, there is no way to tell.  Berry did comment that this is going to be a long, slow process. 

Svitzer Salvage team leader, Captain Drew Shannon, told Tv One in an interview that they are continuing steadily with the transfer of oil.

In addition to the removal of oil, salvage teams also are trying to remove 1,368 containers aboard the Rena. 

A total of 744-tons of waste have been collected thus far in cleanups, and the cleanup bill is expected to cost NZ tens of millions of dollars. 

MarEx will keep readers updated on the dire situation unfolding in New Zealand.