Beaches close from Mount to Maketu

Western Bay of Plenty beaches are closed while operations get underway to clean the leaked oil and strewn container contents washed ashore from the wrecked Rena.

Maritime New Zealand has authorised the closure of the beach stretching from Mount Maunganui down to Maketu, including Maketu Estuary, with restricted access to clean up teams in place for the next 24 to 48 hours.


Maritime New Zealand emergency responders cleaning up Papamoa Beach this morning.

A total of 88 containers have fallen off Rena, some of which have washed up on Mount Maunganui and Motiti Island – 7km from the Astrolabe Reef where the ship is grounded.

MNZ cannot confirm how many containers have washed ashore, but four containers were found on Mount Maunganui beach this morning by residents.

MNZ National On Scene Commander Nick Quinn says public safety is a priority and due to the container contents and oil pollution the beaches will be closed.

'We need pollution crews to go about their work in an unrestricted way.

'We will have a large number of teams working on the beaches to proof containers and remove oil.”

There are 500 responders working on the beaches today, with teams assessing containers and removing oil.

Containers carrying burger patties and insulation have already washed ashore with further containers carrying milk, diary and timber expected to wash up.


The oil is bringing with it an odd haze across the sea.

MNZ salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson says one container carrying the hazardous substance ferrosilicon has fallen from the ship and its whereabouts is unknown.

'This is another reason why people need to leave containers alone – do not go near them.”

Clean-up teams have collected 50 tonnes of solid waste to be taken to a landfill site in Tauranga for disposal.

People can register as volunteers to help in the clean-up at the Mount Maunganui and Omanu surf clubs.

Large amounts of oil are expected to wash up on Motiti Island today with light to moderate oiling on Papamoa and Maketu beaches.

In an aerial observation of the ship this morning, Bruce says only a light sheen of oil was visible around the ship with large amounts of oil in patches further away.

The ship is listing 20 degrees to starboard and Bruce says the crack in the ship's hull has not progressed.

'The stern of the ship is now settling on the reef. The sea conditions are quite good and there is not a lot of movement of the vessel.”

The ship's movement on heavy seas, about 4m swell, during this week's storm was the cause of the cracking.


The waves at Papamoa Beach are black.

An inspection of the vessel is underway this morning with salvage teams set to board the ship and assess whether pumping of fuel can resume.

The Awanuia barge vessel has been dispatched and has begun trial testing to ensure it is immediately ready to receive the oil being pumped from Rena's fuel tanks.

Three tugs are in the water around Rena; one is attached and working to anchor Rena to the reef, while there are two surveying the vessel and can help in an evacuation.

Bruce says the safety of the salvage team is his priority and they won't board Rena unless it is safe to do so.

A specialist company has been contracted to remove the containers from the ship and is on site today.

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4 comments

very sad

Posted on 13-10-2011 12:55 | By Dawn

The photo of the black waves at Papamoa Beach break my heart.


Public's support

Posted on 13-10-2011 14:13 | By Pamax

The best way residents can help is to stay off the beaches and leave cleaning up to the specialist teams. If you want to help, perhaps Service Clubs and locals could set up their BBQ's and provide food,drinks & refreshments to the clean up teams. Also,maybe some "Portaloos" along the dunes would be appreciated, anything that will make their (clean up)task easier has to be a benefit. Go to it residents, the beach and foreshore areas are our playground. Max Lewis Mt Maunganui


IF

Posted on 13-10-2011 15:50 | By Capt_Kaveman

you want to go have alook please stay above the high water mark as u will get tar/oil on yr feet and stuck in yr shoes, if you do go below the hight tide line have shoes on that you are willing to throw away and take them off once you pass above the high tide mark a part them in a bag. trust me i been for good look along the beach and there are some bad patches in Papamoa that stinks quite bad


Mount Lions are doing it on the weekend

Posted on 13-10-2011 16:14 | By Demandthetruth

Good comment Max. As it happens we at Mount Lions Club are cooking sausages etc free for Volunteers on saturday & sunday at Mount, Omanu & Papamoa Surf Clubs. They will be delivered by surf club memebers on quads. If some of the other service clubs, churches or volunteers wanted to do other days then that would be great. EBOP need to be pushed heavily for portaloos.


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