24 May 2016

Small amount of diesel leaking from sunken vessel – Coromandel Harbour

Waikato Regional Council is working to stop diesel leaking from a sunken vessel moored in the Coromandel Harbour, close to the ferry wharf near Te Kouma.

In the early hours of this morning Coastguard towed the stricken vessel to the Coromandel Harbour and moored it. The vessel had broken down close to the harbour.

It subsequently sunk while moored, with no persons on board.

Council’s regional on scene commander Dave Lovatt said a small amount of diesel had since begun to leak from the fuel tanks of the 10-metre vessel.

“A diver has just arrived at the scene and will be going underwater this afternoon to block the breathers of the fuel tanks to stem the flow of diesel,” Mr Lovatt said.

“There’s an estimated 200 litres of diesel on board, but at the moment only tiny amounts is escaping into the water. We have our harbourmaster on the scene monitoring the situation and we have booms on standby ready to be deployed if required.

“However, the good news is that the choppy conditions will help to disperse and break up the diesel and minimise any environmental impact,” Mr Lovatt said.

As a precaution, iwi and nearby shellfish farmers have been notified of the incident.

The owner is liaising with an Auckland-based salvage company to arrange removal of the sunken vessel from the water, which may take a few days.

ENDS

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