MV Rena salvors brace for break-up
January 6 (NZH) – The Rena is set to be battered this weekend by some of the largest sea swells to hit the cargo ship since it grounded on the Astrolabe Reef on October 5. However officials are confident they have plans to deal with the worst-case scenario of the ship breaking up, and crews on the shore would have at least 12 hours to prepare before oil or debris reached Bay of Plenty beaches. Swells up to 7.5 metres high are possible at the Astrolabe Reef near Tauranga, where the ship has all but broken in two after being lashed by waves since it ran aground in October. Although the vessel is effectively in two parts, Maritime New Zealand said the forward and aft sections of the Rena remain firmly grounded on the reef. A low pressure system near New Caledonia is predicted to shift southeast on Saturday, bringing winds up 50km/h to the area around the Rena. MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said 3m to 4m-high waves could hit the ship several times an hour, but the highest 7.5m waves would be a once-a-day occurrence. […] Divers have been unable to see if the two parts of the vessel are still connected below the surface. […] With the bad weather on the way, salvors will endeavour to remove as many containers from the vessel as possible today before bringing the crane barge Smit Borneo back to port. Another 17 containers were removed from the vessel yesterday, leaving an estimated 881 containers left on the vessel. […]
