2011 Tauranga oil spill
| Rena oil spill | |
|---|---|
Rena aground on Astrolabe Reef
|
|
| Location | Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 37°33′37″S 176°23′47″E / 37.56039°S 176.396466°ECoordinates: 37°33′37″S 176°23′47″E / 37.56039°S 176.396466°E |
| Date | 5 October 2011 |
| Cause | Ship grounding |
| Volume | Up to 2,500 barrels (400 m3) |
The Rena oil spill occurred off the coast of Tauranga in New Zealand. The spill was caused by the grounding of MV Rena on the Astrolabe Reef. The Rena was a container ship and cargo vessel owned by the Greek shipping company Costamare Inc., through one of its subsidiary companies, and chartered by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The spill has been described as New Zealand's worst maritime environmental disaster.
On Wednesday, 5 October 2011, at 2:20 AM (Tuesday, 4 October 13:20 UTC) while sailing in clear weather from Napier to Tauranga, at a speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph), Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef. The ship was carrying 1,368 containers, eight of which contained hazardous materials, as well as 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 200 tonnes of marine diesel oil. Initially the ship listed 11 degrees to port, with the front stuck on the reef.
By Sunday, 9 October 2011, a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) oil slick threatened wildlife and the area's rich fishing waters.
Oil from Rena began washing ashore at Mount Maunganui beach on 10 October 2011. Bad weather that night had caused the ship to shift further onto the reef, and the crew was evacuated. The shifting of the ship caused further damage, resulting in a further 130 - 350 tonnes of oil leaking.
Strong winds and bad weather on the night of 11 October 2011 caused the ship to list over to starboard 19 degrees; this resulted in between 30 and 70 containers being washed overboard. None of the containers contained hazardous cargo. Containers subsequently began washing ashore on Motiti Island.
On the afternoon of 12 October 2011, aerial footage showed a large crack in the hull, increasing fears that the ship could break in two and sink. It also showed a container floating in the water surrounded by smoke, suggesting that a chemical reaction was occurring.
...
Wikipedia