The Director of Maritime NZ has withdrawn two statutory notices relating to the wreck of the MV Rena, issued after the vessel grounded on the Astrolabe Reef on October 5, 2011.

The notices declared the wreck a hazard to navigation (under section 100A of the Maritime Transport Act) and a hazardous ship (under s248).

The Rena grounded on Astrolabe Reef in the early house of October 5, 2011. File photo.

They required the owners of the vessel to undertake work to address the navigational hazard and discharge of harmful substances, and inform Maritime NZ of progress being made.

Maritime NZ Director Keith Manch says salvage and clean-up work undertaken since the grounding meant there was now no proper basis for the notices under the Act.

'Significant effort has gone into salvage and safe removal of harmful substances.

'While some oil remains trapped in the wreckage of the vessel, most of the harmful substances contained within the ship have been discharged into the sea and have either been removed or have been, and will continue to be, monitored under the plan provided for under the resource consent.”

In terms of navigational safety, Keith noted that more than 22,000 tonnes of debris had been removed from the seabed.

'The information and evidence available to me indicates that all reasonable efforts have been made to remove entanglement hazards and wreckage, where possible. I have concluded that the wreck and remaining debris on the sea floor no longer constitute a hazard to navigation.”

Keith says the lifting of the statutory notices represented a significant milestone in the response to the grounding.

'Maritime NZ has maintained a presence in Tauranga overseeing the work undertaken by, and on behalf of, the owners since the grounding and wishes to thank all those involved for the efforts that have been put in.”

In response to Maritime NZ lifting the notices, the Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster has amended the exclusion zone to provide access for vessels under 500 tonnes, from 8am Tuesday.

Whilst all previous directions relating to the closure of areas associated with the Rena salvage operation are withdrawn (with effect from 0800 NZST 05 April 2016) exclusion zones will remain in place for vessels over 500 tonnes in the following areas:

• Astrolabe Reef 2.0nm centred on position 37 32.446 S - 176 25.625 E
• Brewis Shoal 1.5nm centred on position 37 34.136 S - 176 22.828 E
• Okaparu Reef 1.5nm centred on position 37 34.914 S - 176 21.669 E
• Penguin Shoal 1.0nm centred on position 37 26.752 S - 176 20.164 E
• Volkner Rocks 2.0nm centred on position 37 28.624 S - 177 08.015 E

This is in accordance with clause 3.11 of the Bay of Plenty Regional Navigation Safety Bylaw 2010 and section 33F(1) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.