Salvors focus on starboard task

Gaining access to the Rena's submerged starboard fuel tank is the focus of the salvors onboard today.

Accessing the tank is a challenging and complex task, says Maritime New Zealand salvage unit manager Kenny Crawford.


Rena on a 22 degree list. Photo: Svitzer.

'With the starboard tank underwater, and the vessel on a heavy list, this is a difficult, dangerous and dirty job,” says Kerry.

Work is progressing well on building a coffer dam so water can be pumped out, giving salvors access to the tank. All going well, the dam is hoped to be completed later today.

Oil from Rena's port side settling and service tanks was pumped off the ship last night.

This leaves an estimated 575-600 tonnes remaining onboard. The port fuel tank is now empty apart from a small amount of oil residue.

Today's oil spill clean up efforts will focus on rocky areas around Mount Maunganui and Leisure Island, as old oil is resurfacing along the foreshore at Papamoa Beach, says national on scene commander Nick Quinn.

'Good old fashioned manual labour,” is still the best means of getting oil off the beaches, says Nick.

The response team will also be trialling mechanical equipment such as sand sifters, which could be used at a later stage to help clean beaches.

A total of 812 tonnes of oily waste has been removed from beaches so far.

Wildlife teams will also continue combing the coastline for oil-affected animals today. There are 390 live birds recovered and being cared for.

Five new enclosures are open for penguins, with five more to be built over the coming week.

Volunteer coordinator Pim de Monchy says more volunteers are being sought to help in the response effort, with two scheduled clean ups at 10am today at Tay Street and at the Taylors Road end of Taylor's Reserve, Papamoa.

More clean ups are also planned throughout next week.

Pim also thanked the many businesses and corporates who helped provide people and resources to the volunteer effort, and called for any more that are willing to help to step forward.

'The clean up effort is going to take weeks, if not months, so we need as many volunteers as possible,” says Pim.

'I really encourage anyone who has a few spare hours to make sure they're registered at www.boprc.govt.nz to come down and help.

'Even those from further afield are welcome to come for the weekend and lend a hand.”

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