Birds Found Dead In Oil Slick

In Australasia, News Headlines, Pollution

A container ship that ran aground on a reef about 20 kilometres off the New Zealand coast has caused a five-kilometre oil slick.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) has deemed the Liberian-flagged ship Rena hazardous after it ran aground on a reef early Wednesday, and the government says there is a risk it will break up.

Authorities say four dead birds have already been discovered and two wildlife rescue centres have been set up.

MNZ says fuel tanks on the 47,000 tonne container vessel do not appear to have been ruptured.

“We are not aware of any actual breaches in the fuel tanks. However, because of the extensive damage to the vessel, it is difficult to determine accurately what the scale and scope of the damage is,” MNZ on-site controller Rob Service said.

Mr Service says it is not clear how much of the 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on board has leaked.

But he says the MNZ response team is testing whether dispersants can be used to break up the slick.

“Reports are that it is going well. We will review the results from the trials later today, with a view to launching a full dispersant operation tomorrow morning,” he said.

None of the ship’s 25-man crew was injured when it ran aground. Why it stranded remains unknown and is subject to a NZ Transport Accident Investigation Commission inquiry.

Australian maritime officials detained Rena in Fremantle port for a day in July, citing defective securing of cargo and hatches.

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