Stricken Ship Spills Contents

The Liberian-flagged container ship MV Rena, which struck the Astrolabe Reef 5 October on its way to Tauranga, continues to spill oil into the ocean. A total of 90 tons of oil have so far been pumped off the vessel onto the bunker barge Awanuia. A stress fracture to the hull of the 21-year old Rena, which triggered fears the boat may break in two, is making efforts to remove oil and more than 1000 containers off the boat difficult. Work continues to protect wildlife in the area, particularly the dotterel, an endangered New Zealand bird. “We have now caught 46 dotterels but we’re hoping to capture 60 to ensure the sustainability of this population,” Wildlife Field Operations coordinator Brent Stephenson said. Already 1300 seabirds have died. Both the captain and an officer of the ship, owned by Greece-based Costamare Inc., have been charged under New Zealand maritime law with operating a ship in a dangerous manner, which could bring them each a year in jail.