With salvage attempts being severely
prejudiced due adverse weather, experts predict that the next 24
hours will be critical for the stranded vessel, MV Rena.
High waves and strong winds have caused major difficulties for the
salvors and environmental teams trying to save the vessel and her
cargo and limit the environmental damage caused by fully cellular
containership which stranded off the east coast of New Zealand's
North Island on 4th October 2011.
The vessel which sailed Napier on 3rd October 2011 and which was
bound for Tauranga, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney had in excess
of 1300 containers on board at the time of the grounding, 11 of
which are reportedly carrying dangerous cargoes including four
containers of ferrosilicon, a dangerous substance that can produce
hydrogen and can explode, if brought into contact with water.
The vessel is now listing approximately 20 degrees to starboard
with reports coming through that upwards of 90 containers have been
lost overboard, the majority of which have either sunk or washed
up. So far only 75 tonnes of oil have been successfully pumped from
the vessel leaving approximately 1270 tonnes on board, and with
severe structural cracks appearing the vessel could break up at any
time.
The Captain of the vessel appeared in Court late last week, charged
with "operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or
risk" which carries a maximum fine of 10,000 New Zealand dollars or
12 months in prison. The captain was remanded on bail without
entering a plea to the charge.
Time will tell, but with such a large amount of oil and cargo
remaining onboard, the environmental risk posed by the stranded
vessel remains huge.
Should you require any further information, assistance or advice in
connection with this or any other casualty, then please do not
hesitate to contact us.
Hill Dickinson has a wealth of experience in dealing with the full
range of marine, trade and energy issues. If you have any
queries relating to the above, or any other legal matter, please do
not hesitate to contact
us for advice.
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