NZ Defence Force on standby

Prime Minister John Key has announced 500 Defence Force personnel are on standby ready for a 'spade and bucket” rescue operation.

If oil leaking from the stricken ship Rena does reach Tauranga shores Mr Key says the defence force will be ready to act, but it will not be an easy operation.

Prime Minister John Key has announced 500 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are on standby for a "spade and bucket" cleanup approach. See video below.

'Everyone is doing everything they can as fast as they can. It is highly likely with the change in the weather the oil will come on shore and the defence force will be ready to assist.”

In the case the oil does wash up on shore, Mr Key says the defence force will be at the ready, and will work with local volunteers to clean up Bay of Plenty beaches.

The Prime Minister arrived in Tauranga today to inspect the operation underway to deal with the stricken container ship on Astrolabe Reef.

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3 comments

WHY WAIT FOR IT TO COME ASHORE

Posted on 10-10-2011 00:35 | By ANNA KISSED

There has been 6 days now and the fuel pumping apparently only started on Saturday evening, now a storm is coming and the oil will come ashore, guess no choice now but to mop up the avoidable mess "afterwards" ...


THINK AGAIN LADDIES!

Posted on 10-10-2011 08:30 | By PLONKER

Just because the oil appears on the beaches is no difference at all, the eclogical harm is done because the oil is already in the water. The only difference here is that when on the beaches all can see it, that is the only difference.


Duh

Posted on 10-10-2011 16:27 | By Kin

Yeh Anna, what you gonna scoop it up with out of the sea? A fishing net? Lets have a flotilla of a thousand tinnies bobbing about scooping it up with a net. That's sensible. Any other bright ideas?


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