The source of the extensive oil spill in Tauranga Harbour has been pinpointed to two small corrosion holes in a pipeline.
Mobil, who admitted fault for the oil spill on Monday, this afternoon announced an initial visual inspection of the pipeline has taken place and indicates that the fuel oil leak occurred from the two holes in a 150 mm diameter lateral pipeline.
The clean-up continues after Monday's oil spill under Mount Maunganui wharf. Photo: Cameron Avery.
Mobil Oil New Zealand country manager Andrew McNaught says this short section of pipe, about three metres long, branches off the main pipeline along the wharf which carries fuel oil for ship bunkering.
'This section of pipe has been removed and visually inspected, and has been provided to the council today. Preliminary engineering assessment is that the failure of the pipe appears unusual.
Further testing in coming weeks by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council including metallurgical assessment of the pipe will be required to understand the specific cause of the failure.
Andrew says there is no evidence that the pipeline had been tampered with.
The pipelines are inspected on a quarterly basis, and a pressure test was conducted in March 2015 with no issues identified.
The pipeline system to the wharf is currently shutdown, while Mobil conduct inspections and test all sections of the pipeline branches along the wharf to confirm their ongoing integrity.
The oil spill was first noticed shortly before noon on Monday by Tauranga Bridge Marina staff who contacted the regional council pollution hotline.
Heavy fuel oil had leaked from a pipe during fuel bunkering (fuelling of a cargo ship). Bunkering was stopped immediately when the spill was noticed, but the exact amount of oil lost is yet to be determined.
The main bunker line is 20.30 cm diameter pipe capable of carrying 150 tonnes of oil per hour.
The leak was under the Mount Maunganui wharf in a smaller diameter spur line. The oil poured into the water for an unknown amount of time before it was carried by wind and tide up the harbour and past the marina.
Andrew says Mobil continues to assist the Bay of Plenty Regional Council in responding to the leak of fuel oil to Tauranga Harbour on Monday.
Mobil's efforts are focused on removing pockets of fuel oil which remain around the wharf where the leak occurred. Absorbent booms are being used in this process.
Mobil has offered assistance to council including personnel to help with the shoreline clean-up which is continuing today under the direction of the BOPRC on-scene commander.
Andrew apologises for the incident and any concern caused to the local community.
'Mobil has commenced its own investigation into the incident, and will fully cooperate with the BOPRC as they conduct their investigations.”
Mobil will consider claims for damage directly resulting from the leaked oil. A process has been established, and calls regarding claims can be directed to 0800 692 524.
Community queries can be directed to Mobil's community hotline during business hours on 0800 894 011.
5 comments
Port Intrusion in City
Posted on 29-04-2015 20:30 | By Bwucee
at what stage do we say the Port has become too big for the city? The containers have become 'the view' in many places! Pests, invasive sea life etc. are what is becoming normal in Tauranga harbour. Don't add Rena.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Posted on 29-04-2015 23:04 | By The Caveman
Clearly Mobil does not have systems in place to determine if the bunker oil they are pumping is actually getting to the ship. In this day and age, pump pressure and flow rates should be very simply determined and any sudden change should raise alarm bells
oil quantity
Posted on 30-04-2015 11:33 | By TVFactory
Mobil state they do not know how much oil was spilt. What a load of rubbish. How do they know how much oil too charge someone for when they fill up there ship ?They know exactly how much was spilt . Port of tauranga only have a trailer for there oil response kit. Talk about unprepared and put minimal effort in. Its quite obvious these clowns do not have a effective oil spill response plan. Also how much do Mobil get fined?
Ecological damage
Posted on 30-04-2015 14:59 | By p & q
Is the ecological damage from the oil spill in the harbour even measureable.? The explanation by Mobil and the apology seems so sanitary. Yes - they say they are sorry and will pay for the clean up. But three out of 6 shags near our house yesterday had oil on them. The worst affected disappeared in the afternoon. The other two did not return today . Seabirds naturally are difficult to catch and treat when they are affected like this.The harbour had just been returning to normal since Rena. So disappointing and also disheartening to imagine that these events and clean ups could become normal for us.
Port of tauranga
Posted on 01-05-2015 07:55 | By Devils-advocate
Have somewhat more than a trailer for their spill response, the problem is that it requires a hiab truck to run their equipment out to a boat ramp. They also have training exercises including out of town visitors. As for metering the oil, I would imagine they have a meter at the bunkering point, and not in the supply line where this leak came from. I know some of you need someone to blame, but why not wait for the investigation into why the pipe failed?
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