Rena Project Update – Salvage Work Restricted

Resolve Salvage & Fire
• Salvage work was greatly restricted over the past week, with six consecutive days spent off the water as a result of rough weather.
• The RMG280 crane barge was also unable to operate during six of the past seven days.
• However, on 12 October the RMG280 was able to lift its largest single piece of steel from the Rena - 27 tonnes.
• Total steel landed and weighed this week was only 36 tonnes.
• In excess of 700 tonnes of steel has been removed overall.
• With the difficult and often dangerous underwater salvage phase now underway, future operations have become even more dependant on weather conditions.
• ‘Weather days’ are anticipated and accounted for in project timelines. Resolve remains on schedule to complete the reduction of the bow to 1 metre below the low tide level by early 2013.
Braemar Howells/Unimar
• Braemar Howells teams are continuing with beach inspections – focusing on an area which runs from Mount Maunganui to the coastal township of Pukehina.
• Braemar Operations Manager Mike Richards says this work – to pinpoint any remaining Rena debris – will start from the base of Mauao, with teams equipped with quad bikes carrying out “close visual inspections.”
• He says that so far, the results from this work are very encouraging. “We are naturally keen to ensure that popular beaches are in good condition for the expected influx of holidaymakers this weekend.”
• Mr Richards says the stormy spring weather which has lasted a whole week forced a halt to the work of divers at the wreck site. The diver support and recovery vessel Tasman Challenger was re-deployed to assist with coastal inspections.
• At sea, patrols are being stepped up to ensure the safety of boaties, as more small boat owners take to the water in coming weeks. The tug Maui is continuing patrols of the wreck site, but we are also planning how best to deploy a fast response craft should the need arise, Mr Richards says.
• Mr Richards says boat owners are reminded that the exclusion zone around the Rena wreck exists for the safety of people working there, and boaties.
• The number of containers recovered still stands 1007 following the identification of another container from the debris collected last week.

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