Update On Rena - 4.50pm 9 January 2012

Update On Rena

• Both pieces of the MV Rena remain on the Astrolabe reef and there has been no significant change in its condition since yesterday.
• On-board sensors are still being monitored by the Go Canopus and show a slight change in the list of the stern section of the vessel.
• Salvors landed on the bow section of the Rena yesterday but were not able to board the stern section. For safety reasons, they will not be able to board the stern section until the swells reduce.

Oil Spill Response: Alex van Alex van Wijngaarden, Maritime New Zealand On Scene Regional Commander
• There has been no significant release of oil from the Rena since it broke in two.
• A sheen of oil is still visible about 3km long by 5-10m wide
• Oil spill response teams are following up reports of minor amounts of oil on Matakana Island and off Waihi Beach.
• Where oil is found, it will be cleaned up. If you see fresh oil on shore, please call 0800 OILSPILL (0800 645774)
• Oiled wildlife response teams are continuing to check the shore and follow up reports of oiled wildlife.
• Only two if the five birds brought in yesterday were found to be oiled, and are being treated
• A further two birds have been brought in today and will be treated.
• Anyone finding oiled wildlife should call 0800 333 771 immediately.

Container Recovery: Claudene Sharp, Operations Manager, Braemar Howells
• Debris from broken containers has come ashore on Waihi Beach and at the entrance to the harbour
• As of 3pm today, 12 containers were confirmed as having come ashore – mostly at Waihi Beach but also at Boyentown and on Matakana Island
• Braemar Howells is working to retrieve and remove these containers as conditions allow
• The number of containers believed to have been lost overboard from the Rena when it broke apart has been revised to about 150.
• About 45 containers have been located drifting at sea, and most have now had buoys or locator beacons attached to them, so that they can be recovered when the sea conditions allow.
• Where possible, tugs are pulling drifting containers away from the coast. Vessels with trawl nets will be used to collect floating debris when the sea conditions allow.
• Teams are also cleaning up debris at Waihi Beach
• Most of the debris which has washed ashore consists of bags of milk powder, timber, plastics and paper
• The public is urged to keep well away from all debris, which will be removed by Braemar Howells
• All sightings of debris or containers should be reported to 0800 333 771

Maritime New Zealand oil spill response media team

www.maritimenz.govt.nz

To report sightings of oil - 0800 OIL SPILL (0800 645 774)

To report sightings of oiled wildlife - 0800 333 771

To report sightings of containers or container debris - 0800 333 771

Public health queries 0800 611 116

Iwi liaison 0800 AWHI ME (0800 294 463)

ends

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