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Rena update (update 40)

Maritime New Zealand

Friday 21 October 2011, 7:15PM

By Maritime New Zealand

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New Zealand's rare and protected dotterel, whose favourite haunt is a sandy beach, is being especially watched and cared for while there is a risk to its habitat.
New Zealand's rare and protected dotterel, whose favourite haunt is a sandy beach, is being especially watched and cared for while there is a risk to its habitat. Credit: Maritime New Zealand
David Hurn, one of the many hundreds of volunteers involved in the clean up of beaches in the Bay of Plenty, concentrates on the rocks around Mount Maunganui.
David Hurn, one of the many hundreds of volunteers involved in the clean up of beaches in the Bay of Plenty, concentrates on the rocks around Mount Maunganui. Credit: Maritime New Zealand
Tourists from Chile, Lorena Bravo and Sebastian Gabler pitch in at the wildlife centre to clean boots and other gear used in the oil clean up.
Tourists from Chile, Lorena Bravo and Sebastian Gabler pitch in at the wildlife centre to clean boots and other gear used in the oil clean up. Credit: Maritime New Zealand
Families are already flocking back to the Mount Maunganui main beach to enjoy the fine weather while beach clean up crews work with the expectation that the beach can be open for the long weekend.
Families are already flocking back to the Mount Maunganui main beach to enjoy the fine weather while beach clean up crews work with the expectation that the beach can be open for the long weekend. Credit: Maritime New Zealand

BAY OF PLENTY

21 October 2011: 7.00pm

 

Salvage operations on board the cargo vessel Rena are progressing slowly but steadily, with a total of 171 tonnes removed from the vessel by this afternoon.

The port number 5 tank from which fuel is being pumped originally held 772 tonnes.

MNZ Salvage Unit Manager Bruce Anderson said the key focus for the salvage team today had been to establish continuous pumping off the vessel, and they had achieved that.

“Their focus now is on getting that flow happening more quickly. They have a range of options they will be testing to speed up the process – they will be working through these over the next 24 to 48 hours.

“The oil is very difficult to work with and is flowing very slowly at present. However, the team will be doing everything they can to get it moving faster.”

Mr Anderson said the team would continue pumping overnight, if weather allowed.

“We have fine weather forecast until Wednesday so we are taking advantage of the good weather while we can.”

This afternoon, the National On Scene Commander Alex van Wijngaarden reopened the Mount Maunganui beach from the base track through to Tay Street (approximately 3km).

The beach was now open for public use, but not for swimming.

Captain van Wijnngaarden said the beach had only been opened after careful assessment of the beach. Further public health information is available on the Toi Te Ora - Bay of Plenty District Health Board website.

He reminded the public to be careful and to call 0800 OIL SPILL if they came across any oiled areas.

“People should still stay out of the water, and avoid collecting shellfish or fishing in areas which have been contaminated by oil.”

Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesavers would not be on the beach tomorrow.

Captain van Wijngaarden said the maritime exclusion zone around Rena had now been reduced to less than half its previous size. Details of the reduced exclusion zone are available on in the Rena incident section of the Maritime New Zealand website.

Five volunteer events will be taking place along the coastline tomorrow, and these will be managed through local iwi, the Defence Force and the volunteer coordination group.

Beach clean-up crews have recovered a total of 827 tonnes of solid waste.