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Shot of the Rena bow section remaining in place on Astrolabe Reef. - Source: Maritime New Zealand
Debris from the Rena - Source: ONE News -
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Weather conditions have improved today, with the crane barge Smit Borneo back in the water and set to resume work on the wreck of the Rena.
Rough sea conditions around Astrolabe Reef are subsiding and the swell is starting to ease since the container ship split in two last weekend, some three months after it ran aground, spilling 350 tonnes of oil into the sea.
The forecast predicting a swell reduction to 1.5 metres on Sunday night and further reduce to 1 metre on Monday.
However, it may be some time before container removal resumes or divers can survey the sunken aft section, said Maritime New Zealand (MNZ).
It said that once seas have calmed down more, the barge will take its place next to the Rena to unload further containers.
"The dynamic sea state and the relative proximity of the reef below make it difficult to indicate any timing for this next stage of container salvage," said National On-Scene Commander Rob Service.
The turbulent state of the sea, combined with the dangerous state of the wreck, is preventing dive operations at this stage, MNZ said.
"Divers are also on standby for the right conditions to survey the sunken rear section," said Service.
Salvors are taking into consideration large surges around the ripped-apart steel structure of the vessel, as well as sea foam and other challenges.
They are on standby until a more detailed dive survey can be done, which will be when conditions allow.
The dive inspection will confirm the state of the stern, and identify any underwater obstructions, which will guide the next steps in the salvage operation, it said.
Meanwhile, aerial observation flights to the Rena by MNZ and Svitzer salvors this morning have confirmed no change to the state of the wreck.
There appeared to be less oil leaking out of the wreck.
Oily little bird found, clean-up continues
An oiled little blue penguin has been found near Hahei - some 100 kilometres north of the Rena.
The find has led the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team to consider extending their operation north, in case more oiled wildlife are found.
The penguin is being transferred to the Te Maunga oiled wildlife facility, where it will join seven other oiled little blue penguins. Twenty-eight are under care at Massey University.
Meanwhile earlier today, teams have been assessing how best to clean up fresh oil from the Rena along two kilometres of coastline at Papamoa East in the Bay of Plenty.
Maritime said shoreline clean-up assessment teams have identified small spots of oil measuring up to 2cm and stretching over 2km of coastline at Papamoa East.
Teams at Pukehina have confirmed this morning there is no oil or debris ashore there, MNZ said.
Assessment teams have since been deployed to Motiti Island to
survey any oil that may have come ashore there.
Protective booms remain in place at Maketu, Little Waihi, and
Waihatanui to catch any oil from the shipwreck, and oil spill
response teams remain ready to respond to any fresh oil coming
ashore, the authority said.
Members of the public wanting to assist with the clean-up should visit www.boprc.govt.nz/oilspillvolunteers.
Debris from the Rena has been sighted in the area around the Volkner Rocks, in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Eastern Bay of Plenty harbourmaster Brian Spake says any unnecessary voyages should be avoided.
If vessels in the eastern Bay of Plenty do go out, they should maintain a proper lookout and travel at slow speed while transiting local waters, Spake said.
Vessels should be off the water by dark, he said.
Containers cleared
Container recovery company Braemar Howells are continuing with their operations today at Waihi Beach, as well as tackling debris and timber along Matakana Island.
It has reported that Waihi Beach is now free of containers, with a total of 17 taken away for processing.
There are three more containers in the Bowentown Heads area to be processed - on rocks at the entrance and in Anzac Bay.
Two more containers are also ashore north of Waihi Beach in rocky coves.
The recovery team said it is hopeful it has dealt with all the loose containers, which have been afloat.
Work continues to recover the 11 containers on Matakana Island. The container of beads found on Matakana Island has now been removed from the surf and stabilised, and bead recovery on the beach will begin today.
People sighting containers or debris are being urged to report it to 0800 333 771.
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