Saturday, 24th December, 2011
Tauranga, New Zealand

MEDIA UPDATE FROM BRAEMAR HOWELLS:

Braemar Pleased to Meet Pre-Holiday ‘Coastal Sweep’ Targets

Environmental cleanup specialist Braemar Howells has successfully met targets set to sweep a large stretch of Bay of Plenty coast for submerged Rena containers or debris - in advance of the holiday season.

The U.K.-based company’s recovery team will remain on the job through the holiday period, in an effort to try and ensure beaches and inshore areas stay clean for beachgoers and boaties.

Braemar Operations Manager NZ Neil Lloyd says the company’s sonar-equipped vessels have swept an area running from Main Beach, Mount Maunganui down through Papamoa to Maketu.

In recent weeks they’ve covered the sea floor out to a depth of 30 metres with no wreckage found. The current search area has been divided into nine grid map zones in the hunt for wreckage, and so far six zones have been completed.

Neil Lloyd says the work has been carried out to the best of their endeavours. However it must be borne in mind there are no cast-iron guarantees, and underwater currents can still bring material to the surface.

Their recovery team is renewing a request for the public’s support over the holiday period. Enjoy yourselves but please remain vigilant for any UFO’s (unidentified floating objects), he says.

Anyone who sights a UFO is asked to call 0800 OIL SPILL (0800-645 774) immediately so that swift clean up steps can be taken.

Neil Lloyd says the recent incident where two containers spilled from Rena in stormy conditions enabled Braemar to test its response measures in a ‘real situation.’ The results were extremely pleasing – the response activated within 30 minutes – and one container was taken under tow and secured to an offshore anchor point and recovered the following day. A significant quantity of timber debris was also successfully recovered. All this was achieved at sea with no impact on the shoreline, he says.

This week the recovery team also responded to three major sightings of debris, including part of a reefer container floating off whangamata. Again there was a swift response using a helicopter and shoreline equipment, with material recovered quickly – no impact on beaches, he says.

More than 80 containers with damaged cargo have now been processed through Braemar’s specialised facility at Truman Lane, Maungatapu.

With an increase in the flow of containers brought off Rena, some evening shifts have been run to avoid adding to pre-Christmas traffic congestion in the area.

A total of nearly 1000 tonnes of cargo has been recovered from the containers, with around 20% recycled or re-used instead of being sent for dumping.

Braemar Howells Managing Director Simon Rickaby has joined the recovery team for two weeks, stepping in to relieve a senior staff member so he can return home to his family for Christmas.

He says his visit is all about support for hard working staff and seeing the recovery operation first hand.

Simon Rickaby’s first visit was in October, when their efforts were getting into full swing. He aims to return again February or March.

Braemar has a policy of employing local people and I’m very pleased to see the results the team of locals and U.K. staff has achieved - with strong support from local iwi, Maritime New Zealand and the salvors, Svitzer, he says.

People do need to appreciate that the recovery work is not just about big cranes and other mechanisation, he says. There is a human element – swimmers going out with ropes – wading ashore in the surf through rocks to attach lines to debris before it can be towed to a barge and hauled aboard. It’s very physical work.

Simon Rickaby and Neil Lloyd join in wishing Bay of Plenty locals a very happy Christmas, saying they’re grateful for the manner in which locals have got behind the Rena salvage and clean up efforts.

Container Status Report – as of 20-12-11
On board or offshore (not yet recovered to port) 993
Containers estimated as lost overboard (changed due to container lost on 16th) 88
Containers with known locations 37
Containers recovered from Shore 26
Containers on shore being recovered 2
Containers located by Sonar 9
Estimated un-located / unknown containers 52
Containers removed from Rena and recovered to port 287
Containers processed at Truman Lane 91
Recovered cargo (approx) 1000 tonnes
Re-used / recycled (approx) 220 tonnes

NOTE: These numbers are subject to frequent change.

Background: Braemar Howells was appointed on 12th October by the vessel’s P&I Insurers, the Swedish Club.

Braemar Howell’s role includes:

1. removal of containers, intact and otherwise, and cargo debris from the shore line
2. capture and recovery of floating/drifting containers and cargo debris
3. sub-surface search for sunken containers and recovery (where safe and possible to do so)
4. decontamination of oiled containers and disposal of any perished cargo

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