It is ironic that Mark Cairn's statement that criticism of the response to the Rena stranding being too slow, was ill informed, and then proceeds to misinform the readers by quoting the MNZ statements that the Awanuia was not of any use until after the 5th day.
During the first five days the infrastructure was basically intact, power, pumps, heating to tanks and the crew was still on board and were familiar with the vessel. The weather was perfect for ship to ship activities and from all accounts the crew was ready to assist with the transfer of oil.
The fuel transfer pumps, waste oil transfer pump or sludge pump could quickly have their discharge lines modified to connect to the bunker loading point or even directly onto transfer hoses.
The Rena was very close to ship repair facilities and any fabrication of parts not possible on board could have been done on shore and quickly sent out the vessel.
It is a complete red herring to suggest that the vessel could not have been ready for the Awanuia.
Once the Rena lurched over to starboard and lost the ability to transfer fuel by her own devices the salvors faced the arduous and often dangerous task of removing the fuel over the next month, this was completely avoidable if the MNZ had acted expediently and secured the Awanuia in those critical first few days.
A recent audit of the MNZ criticised the MNZ for not having sufficient technical people in the department, particularly where the Director and her five deputies have no commercial maritime experience or qualifications.
The recent apology from Catherine Taylor that the MNZ had been too slow in advising the public as the situation developed, was a consequence of her and her managers not being technically aware of the situation and unable to advise the public. It was not until she recruited ex staff with marine experience and consultants that the MNZ was able to report what they were told, parrot fashion.
The recent position being offered to oversee the investigations and on going work on the Rena has been advertised, the successful candidate must be someone that has not been associated with this saga, and hopefully someone with a marine background.

Captain Heath Smart.

Fifty years experience at sea, 25 years oil tankers, deepwater oil drilling, offshore dynamic positioning vessels, (diving, subsea construction, pipelaying, towing, seismic, wreck hunting and salvage).