Locals criticise slow response to Rena oil leak

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Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:32p.m.

Maritime NZ is advising against people cleaning up the beach themselves

Maritime NZ is advising against people cleaning up the beach themselves

By Josh Heslop

The first patches of oil from the stricken Rena have washed ashore in the Bay of Plenty and there are fears it could get worse tonight.

Gale force winds are threatening to delay the salavage operation, or even cause the ship to break up.

The severity of the oil slick is now hitting home, as clumps of sticky tar litter the beaches from Mt Maunganui to Maketu.

More is likely as strong nor’easters begin to whip up the sea surrounding the stranded Rena. The MetService is expecting gales rising to 35 knots.

“Oil will continue to come onto the beach, so it will be progressive and will be a matter of days or weeks as they remove oil from the beach,” says Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

As tempting as it is, Maritime New Zealand is advising against people cleaning up the beach themselves.

But that’s not good enough for some, who say the official response has been too slow off the mark.

“If no one is going to do it, I feel as though we should be doing it anyway. We’ve got our gloves on, we’ve got our spade and shovel, we just want to race down and do whatever we can,” says local resident Guy Shuttleworth.

Coming to the rescue is the Awanuia, which is attempting to pump the remainder of the oil out of the Rena.

But only 10 tonnes of the 1700 on board has been sucked out so far, due to a mechanical fault.

Further down the coast a boom has been fixed to try to shelter the wetlands from the approaching oil – but it offers no guarantee.

“The booms we have simply won’t operate effectively in bad currents so we’ve done the best we can and we’re hoping the oil won’t get there,” says Maritime New Zealand scene controller Rob Service.

Animal response teams are in place to help any birds caught in the slick; nine have been treated so far.

Reports of a near-miss with an oil tanker last week isn’t helping the Rena’s reputation.

An eyewitness told Investigate magazine the Torea was forced to turn full circle after it was cut off at speed by the Rena near Napier.

While the report is damning, the Maritime Union has gone further by saying the cargo ship shouldn’t have been at sea at all.

However, the blame game will have to wait as the focus remains on the salvage operation and preventing any more oil leaking into the sea.

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Comments

11 Oct 2011 04:47p.m.

ian wrote:

The authorities can only do the difficult immediately, and the impossible just a little quicker. BE REASONABLE!!!!!

11 Oct 2011 09:46a.m.

Charles Eggen wrote:

Cleaning the beaches is a "out of sight-out of mind" issue. After it is done, it will still be there. Just dig a foot or so down and, as Alaskans are still learning from the 1989 Valdez incident, it's still there. So long as we are dependent upon these products, these incidents will happen. Some are small, although continuous, such as hard coating our roadways with these products which gradually seeps into the environment. We could have concrete roads, but that would cost more initially. We could heat and cool our buildings without using petroleum products, but that would also cost more initially. The bottom line is that we are all at the mercy of the petroleum industry who have "bought" our leaders and the media. Unless or until we stand up and as Howard Beale said in 'Network' that "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more", it will only get worse.

11 Oct 2011 09:39a.m.

Ricardo wrote:

Stella, you don't make sense. National did not drive a shonky boat onto the reef. Master Mariner, you confirm what most of us fear.

11 Oct 2011 06:57a.m.

Stella wrote:

Why does National not take action and agree to use for example the 300 army personal to clean up the beach. Would that not be a good response to Tauranga Residents? Why does John Key not act but answers its all to complex? Should we not be concerend when our government is not showing a clear lead when a disaster hits? At least its visible this time. New Zealanders wake up! ... Dont let National pollute more waterways of our not so green and clean country.

11 Oct 2011 02:34a.m.

Master Mariner wrote:

I quit my job as a Master Mariner a month ago from a major shipping company. The ship managers are using nationalities against each other for the sake of profits: Cheaper Russian and Ukrainian seafarers against German seafarers against Filipino seafarers against Polish seafarers, etc. Spare parts on board is seen by managers / investors as dead capital. One should only order if it is absolutely necessary and only when something goes absolutely wrong. But deliveries, once orders are sent, are too slow. Container shipping is down and they are turning every penny over and over again. I had to compete with too many captains out there, who are yes-sayers. Afraid to be expensive. The website of Costamare - owner's of Rena - boasts of excellent crew and environmental policies. A slap on the face of all Kiwis. People who never worked at sea, or have poor sea experience are deciding over Masters and seafarers - whether they are working for crewing agencies, shipping companies or maritime authorities. Cadet training is of poor quality. The worldwide public is blind and does not know what is true or not, what is good quality of training, what is poor. Because the experts / the professionals are going or are already gone. The managers always wanted to go cheap. There is no such thing as officer's dignity anymore. You have a license, we take you - But, please, you have to be cheap. The Liberian registry is not that bad. But, remember, it is a corporation and its headquarters is not in Monrovia, Liberia but in New York. It is there to make money not to represent a country. And because they represent the 2nd largest registry in the world, after Panama, they have strong influence what is passed through the IMO - and what is not to be passed. Anyway, has anyone visited the website of the Liberian registry - LISCR? Any news about Rena? No! YOU HAVE THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD - NOT THE LONG DARK OIL SLICK! You deserve to be treated better. There are more Rena's out there.