New Zealand salvage crews have passed the halfway mark in pumping oil from the stranded ship Rena. bigpondnews.comOctober 26 (Big Pond) – New Zealand salvage crews have passed the halfway mark in pumping oil from the stranded and broken ship Rena, but are warning they still face a Herculean task to get the rest out.

There was around 1700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on Rena when it grounded on the Astrolabe Reef nearly three weeks ago. Around 350 tonnes has spilled from the ship, and by Tuesday afternoon 645 tonnes had been transferred to the tanker Awanuia. The salvage team will calculate the exact amount removed on Wednesday afternoon but estimate they passed the halfway point overnight. Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson says it is encouraging to reach the milestone, but warns the second half of the task poses some serious challenges. ‘The second half of the oil is in around four tanks, rather than one – and one of them is submerged underwater.’ Mr Anderson said the salvors would now set up a fuel transfer system from the three engine room tanks, which together hold around 250 tonnes of oil, to the tug Go Canopus, which will hopefully speed up the process. The salvors are currently pumping from these tanks into the port number 5 tank and then onto Awanuia. The latest oil leak of note from Rena was on Saturday with MNZ national on scene commander Rob Service on Tuesday saying this oil is heading north. ‘It will be broken down and broken up and once it arrives there and we can expect it to be in small patties,’ Mr Service said. Wildlife experts have been sent to Mayor Island to help manage the oil expected to wash up on the wildlife sanctuary’s coastline. Nearly 1400 birds have been found dead since the Rena ran aground.

Rena oil pumping passes halfway mark