• Work is continuing on preparing the crane barge Smit Borneo for container removal operations. A 180 tonne “crawler” crane has been installed on the barge – this will be used for lifting salvors during container removal operations.
• It is currently anticipated that, weather permitting, the barge will go out to Rena tomorrow. It will then take at least a day to get the barge into position and set the anchors in place for container removal.
• Container removal operations will only commence when the weather and sea state allows.
• Salvors will be living in the accommodation block on Smit Borneo, meaning they will no longer need to be taken out to the Rena by helicopter, saving travel time.
• The Sea Tow 60 will be used as a shuttle barge to receive containers from Smit Borneo and take them to the Port for processing.
• Motion sensors on Rena confirm no significant change in the condition of the wreck, which remains in a fragile state.
• The weather is improving with north westerly winds of around 10 knots. There is still a maximum swell of around 3m, but that is expected to decrease over the next few days.
• Braemar Howells teams are working on Motiti Island today, removing container debris. Teams are also working on White and Whale Islands.
• Oil spill response teams are focusing on Pāpāmoa, Mount Maunganui and Motiti Island today. There will be a team working at Ōmanu, following reports of tar balls on the beach.
• Observation flights are continuing to monitor the sheen around Rena. This is currently stretching around 3km southwest of the wreck.
• Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Teams will be checking Maketū Spit and Little Waihi today.
• The National Oiled Wildlife Response Team released six dotterel at the southern end of Matakana Island this morning, and 24 little blue penguins at Mount Maunganui.
• These were part of an ongoing programme of wildlife releases. Some will not be promoted as opportunities for media or the public. While we appreciate the public interest in these release events, these must be balanced by operational requirements to ensure the birds are released without being stressed. There are plans to release more little blue penguins soon – we will make sure and let you know when we have confirmed a date and time.
• Wildlife teams are also continuing to undertake night operations to check on the progress of birds already released into the wild. There have been no reports of oiled birds to date. On Monday, the wildlife team picked up three birds reported by the public as potentially suffering from oil. They comprised two shearwaters, one dead, one injured, and one dead little blue penguin. The team has now confirmed none of them had been visibly affected by oil.
• Members of the public are encouraged to call the wildlife team if they see any oiled wildlife – please call 0800 333 771.

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