Maritime NZ Public Update and Advisory - Rena Disaster - 16 October

by Maritime NZ on 16 Oct 2011
Maritime NZ, on Sunday 16 October, issued a media release/public notice in regard to the Rena Disaster updating on the situation and containing public information relating to the environmental disaster.

Rena Update (#24) - 1900hrs

The focus of operations today has centred on the salvage effort aboard Rena with good progress being made on preparations for pumping oil and pumping has begun this evening.

MNZ Salvage Unit Head Bruce Anderson says he received a plan from the salvage crew that will allow them to stay on the vessel overnight and all of tomorrow.

'The safety of the salvage team is paramount and I had to be satisfied that there is a workable plan to rescue the people from the vessel if something goes wrong.

'I have now seen the plan which states the steps they will take to ensure the safety on board overnight to complete preparations and then start pumping fuel to the tanker Awanuia that is lying off the Rena’s stern.'

'The team has encountered a number of technical difficulties, but the calm conditions and the forecast for the next 24 hours give them a good opportunity to get this work underway.

'This is a hugely challenging and risky operation even in full daylight – these are incredibly brave and dedicated people working very hard to protect the beaches and coastline of the Bay of Plenty and the communities who use them.

National On Scene Commander Nick Quinn said that there was an added level of complexity to the operations due to the list of the ship and the consistency of the oil.

'While we understand that everyone is anxious to know the oil is being removed, we need to be absolutely sure our systems are firmly in place and that we mitigate against all risks, including the safety of salvage crews and protection of the environment.

'The good news is that the beaches are cleaner, the salvage team have achieved some vital preparation today and the wildlife response is in full swing, but we can't lose sight of the threat that still remains.

'It's crucial we stay one step ahead and are well prepared for whatever the situation throws at us,' Mr Quinn said.

While the weather has been good for the past few days, it is expected to deteriorate late tomorrow which may impact on the operation.

Health

• The public are advised not to collect and consume shellfish from waters with visible oil contamination. Any seafood that has 'off 'or petrol like odours should be avoided.
• This advice remains in place even for beaches that were contaminated and which have now been cleaned and reopened.
Salvage:
• The platforms have been put in place on the ship and the Awanuia is in position along with the Napier-based tug Ahuriri. They have attached a floating line so they can now concentrate on moving fuel from the vessel and force it through.
• They hope to start pumping today.
• On No 5 port tank they have penetrated the deck to get hoses into the portway the length of the ship. However the atmosphere has to be checked as due to fumes they cannot work inside at the moment – it’s like working inside a petrol tank.
• So far there is 770 tonnes in the No5 port tank and two large settling tanks handy to the engine room.
• They are less sure about the amount of fuel in No 5 starboard tank, which is under water. It doesn’t appear ruptured and there is no sign of oil coming out.
• They will have to do a 'hot tap' which requires drilling through several layers, closing the valve and extracting the oil. They know there are 1000 tonnes on the vessel and another 360 tonnes that can’t be confirmed..
• The Archimedes pump can do anything from 0 to 86 tonnes an hour and about 20 tonnes an hour is realistic.
• It is still a real possibility that the ship could slip off the reef.

Beach cleanup:

• The volunteer force on the beach is extraordinary and they are employing sound environmental practices. Vehicles are only being used on clean areas.
• The surf zone effectively breaks down the oil and weather is a key factor.
• There is an oil sheen 20 km west of White Island which is significantly diminished. The more chop, the better for breaking down the oil.
• A command post has been set up in Whakatane and another in Waihi
• A lot of fist-sized balls of weathered oil are arriving on the beach and these can be easily picked up. Some oil has been seen around the Mount base.
• The Mount main beach has been reopened up to Leisure Island and the rest of the beach is closed while water sampling is done to see if oil is buried in the sand.
• A heavy science programme is underway in monitoring and surveillance of the 30 km of beach from the Mount to Maketu and inland. Teams are reporting back on the extent of the oil.
• Very little oil is coming ashore now but. at some point due the nature of the RENA’s position on the reef it is likely there will be another release.
• A community briefing will be held in Whakatane at the high school hall at 6.00pm on Monday.

Wildlife

• The community are reminded that if they observe oiled birds or seals, they should call the Wildlife Response team on 0800 333 771 rather than contacting their local Department of Conservation office.
• Members of the public should not attempt to touch, move or clean any wildlife for the safety and welfare of both parties.
• The seal recovery team will assess any seals. Seals groom themselves a lot to keep their fur .
• Seals should not be approached. Members of the public should stay at least 5metres away. Seals often come ashore to rest and sleep – this is normal behaviour. Coughing/sneezing and weeping eyes is also usual. Seals will be assessed and will be left on the beach if healthy.
• 39 wildlife crews started today and have patrolled the coastline from Waihi through to Torere around the East coast.
• 181 birds are now in the Oiled Wildlife Recovery Centre. 143 little blue penguins, 2 pied shag,
1 kingfisher, 1 fluttering shearwater, 1 white fronted tern and 36 NZ dotterel.
• 1250 dead birds have been recovered to date.
• The Oiled Wildlife Recovery team have been working hard today on forward planning for future scenarios which might eventuate over the following few days.
• It is imperative that all wildlife is assessed (even if dead), by the official wildlife response team so that the full impact of the oil spill can be determined.
• Dogs should be kept away from the beaches, shoreline and sea. If your cat or dog becomes oiled, contact your local vet.

Please note: some of these figures are estimates, and are subject to change.

Media boats stop oil pumping - Released at 1100hrs

There are currently four vessels with media on board breaching the maritime exclusion zone. They are close to the Rena and they are disrupting salvage operations.

Air operations cannot be undertaken while these vessels are in the area and have ceased while this is resolved. This is because we cannot risk lifting or dropping off heavy equipment while these vessels are nearby.

We are at a critical stage of the salvage operation and these vessels need to leave the area immediately.


Rena Update (#22)

The Bay of Plenty community is continuing to support oil spill response efforts, with thousands of volunteers registered to assist beach clean-up operations.

Locals have also been offering support in other ways.

National On Scene Commander Nick Quinn said members of the local community had been delivering baking and food to hard-working clean-up crews on the beach.

'The teams have been overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity and kindness of the local Bay of Plenty community.'

'Its very hard physical work cleaning up oil, and this has really given a boost to those people out on the beaches and around the shoreline.

'A local bakery delivered trays of hot sausage rolls and pies as well as cut lunches. Cartons of apples, bananas and oranges were also donated. A number of locals also baked muffins and dropped them in for the volunteers

'One of the radio stations ran a barbeque at the Papamoa Surf Club and one of the banks ran a refreshment station for volunteers on Operation Beach Clean.'

Mr Quinn also paid tribute to the fantastic contribution of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

'They are out on the water ensuring the shipping lane into the port is clear from containers and that the exclusion zone is not breached, they are on the beaches in the clean up operation, and they are assisting with aircraft.

'It really is a team effort and it is tremendous to watch everyone pull together in this way.'

New Zealand Defence Force

· The NZDF continues to support Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) in providing a whole of government approach to the crisis involving the Rena.
· 382 Defence Force personnel are currently assisting the oil spill response operation.
· Approximately 140 NZ Army personnel from the 2nd Land Force Group, based at Linton Military Camp, have formed shoreline clean up teams for the purpose of removing oil and salvage from affected beaches.
· Additionally, assessment teams have also been working alongside other agencies to identify those areas requiring clean up, with particular emphasis given to the area from Opotiki to Cape Runaway. This has enabled MNZ to identify and prioritise potential spill areas and staging sites should the situation worsen.
· A number of Royal New Zealand Navy vessels have also supported the recovery efforts. HMNZS Pukaki continues to patrol the naval exclusion zone in order to prevent vessels from entering the area surrounding Rena.
· HMNZS Manawanui remains berthed in Tauranga Harbour ready to provide additional naval support if required, and a Mine Counter Measure Team has continued searching the main shipping channel in order to identify potential hazards (including submerged containers) along the sea bed. This has ensured that the harbour has remained open for the purpose of salvage operations, and allows commercial vessels to enter the harbour safely.
· MNZ has also been supported by both Iroquois and Seasprite helicopters provided by the NZDF. These aircraft have been able to conduct long range reconnaissance of potentially affected areas, and have also been used to airlift salvage personnel on and off Rena.
· They are also prepared to conduct search and rescue operations should the need arise.

Salvage

· Salvage teams yesterday attached four platforms to the side of Rena and set up equipment in anticipation of a fuel recovery operation.
· This morning, the team expects to use extractor fans to remove gases from the fuel tank to make the area safe for salvors to work.
· It is hoped fuel recovery operations will begin today – the speed of the operation will depend on a range of factors including weather, the stability of the vessel and the viscosity of the oil. This will be a long process.
· Weather conditions are expected to remain good for salvage operations throughout today and tomorrow. The sea state is expected to rise on Monday night.
· The tanker Awanuia is in position in anticipation of receiving oil from Rena.

Clean up

· Members of the public who want to help are urged to go through the official volunteer programme. There are now just under 5000 registered volunteers.
· There are situations where attempting to clean the beach without specialist knowledge can cause more harm than good. For example, the dunes along the coastal beaches in the Bay of Plenty have a wide variety of vegetation that is critical to the whole ecosystem.
· Dune systems can be seriously damaged if people walk on them or handle them roughly.
· Any cleaning of dunes along the coast will be done by trained responders using specific shoreline clean-up techniques that will cause the least environmental impact to these important plants.
· More than 500 volunteers are expected to assist today with beach clean ups at Papamoa and Maketu. There have been 618 tonnes of oiled sandy waste recovered.
· There are clean-up sessions with volunteers today planned for:
· Papamoa at 1.00pm, convening at Papamoa Surf Club
· Papaoma East at1.00pm, convening at Taylor Road end of Taylor Reserve
· Maketu at 1.00pm, convening at Whakaue Marae.
· There are volunteer training sessions planned today:
· 10am at Torere Marae, and Waitotahi Surf Club
· 12 midday at Te Kaha Main Marae and Whangaparaoa Marae. These are pre-emptive sessions to ensure that the community can be ready to respond should the oil reach the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Over 100 people from Ohope and Matata have already been trained.

Wildlife

· There are now 36 rare dotterels in the purpose built aviaries in the wildlife facility.
· There are 140 live birds currently being treated and a total of 1018 dead birds recovered.


Note: some of these figures are estimates, and are subject to change.