ALL media enquiries:
0800 774 554
(0800 SPILL INFO)
International media call:
+64 4 499 7318
Updated 11.30am 17 January 2012
National On Scene Commanders (NOSCs)
Tauranga Response and Recovery Manager
Maritime New Zealand Salvage Unit Managers
Who is involved in the response?
At the height of the response approximately 600–800 people working in the oil spill response team, including members of the Incident Command Centre (ICC) and people in the field undertaking beach clean-up and wildlife response. This figure includes staff from MNZ, the National Response Team, regional and local councils, Massey University harbourmasters, the Department of Conservation, Forest and Bird, Waikato University, WWF and New Zealand Fire Service.
Who is responsible for what?
Dealing with the response to and recovery of the Rena is a complex operation. The diagram below outlines the roles and responsibilities of some of the key organisations involved.
Which vessels and equipment are involved in the response?
What has happened?
Early in the morning of 5 October, Rena, a 21-year-old 236 metre Liberian-flagged cargo vessel en route from Napier to Tauranga, struck Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga and grounded. Its bow section is wedged on the reef, its stern section is afloat. Two of its cargo holds flooded and several breaches were identified in the hull.
An oil leak was detected that night and a salvor was appointed the next day.
The crew of 25 remained on board until 11 October, when they were evacuated for safety reasons after Rena suffered further damage. Eighty-eight containers were lost over board as Rena developed a list of about 20 degrees. Progressive bending of its stern section caused significant cracks in the hull.
Approximately 350 tonnes of oil escaped from Rena, some of it washing up at various points along the Bay of Plenty coastline. Some of the containers and their dispersed contents have washed up, others have been located at sea for later recovery and about 30 are unaccounted for.
A further 5–10 tonnes of oil was lost from the vessel overnight on 22–23 October.
The salvage company Svitzer was appointed on 6 October and its salvors worked to remove the estimated 1,350 tonnes of oil in various tanks on Rena. Over 1,300 tonnes of heavy fuel oil was recovered from Rena.
Oil spill response personnel and volunteers have worked to clean oiled beaches. Wildlife experts have treated oiled birds and pre-emptively caught rare New Zealand dotterel to prevent them becoming oiled.These birds were re-released back into cleaned environments in a staged released programme.
Container removal operations began once all of the accessible oil had been removed, with the first container lifted off on 16 November. Container removal continued when weather conditions allowed, with 389 containers removed by 6 January 2012.
On 8 January 2012, an estimated 200–300 of the approximately 830 containers remaining on board Rena were lost overboard. The condition of the vessel had been gradually deteriorating during the time it was grounded on the reef, with more accelerated deterioration during stormy weather.
On Tuesday 10 January the position of the stern section of Rena began to change significantly at around 8.30am, with about 75 percent of the stern section underwater by 10am.
Salvage, container recovery, beach clean-up and wildlife recovery and assessment operations are continuing.
View the full incident timeline setting out day-by-day developments
Why did Rena run aground?
The grounding is subject to separate investigations by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
Why can’t you just suck the oil out from Rena? And why wasn’t this started sooner?
That is what are doing – weather permitting – and has been the plan from the start, but there are a number of issues:
Why it is so difficult to extract the oil?
The oil on board Rena is HFO (heavy fuel oil) 380. It’s not like car oil, but has a consistency more like Marmite. It has to be heated for use and ideally would be heated in this situation to enable extraction. However, Rena has no power so heating is not possible. Instead, screw pumps are being used to extract the oil.
A large amount of equipment, including power units, has had to be installed on the heavily listing vessel to enable this. Salvors have also had to adapt pumping systems to deal with the fact that Rena, like all vessels, is designed to have fuel pumped onto it, not to pump fuel off.
The salvors are making every effort to get the oil off Rena, with safety their top priority, and comprehensive evacuation plans are in place
Why didn't MNZ use the NZ-made inflatable barges to offload oil from Rena?
MNZ owns two inflatable Lancer barges, part of its $12 million worth of marine oil spill response equipment. The barges have been brought to Tauranga and are ready to be used if required.
The salvors, who are responsible for removing the fuel, chose to use Awanuia because it is capable of taking all Rena's fuel in one go. The barges have a 100 tonne capacity and would have required numerous trips.
Rena, like all vessels, is designed to have fuel pumped on to it, not to pump fuel off. It needed significant modification to pump fuel off it. This required transporting specialist modification equipment to Rena, which also took time. The barges have no pumping facility.
Furthermore, removing approximately 1,700 tonnes of fuel from a fully loaded vessel would have significant impacts on its stability, so it was essential in those early days to conduct proper calculations.
The barges are ready to use, if it is decided this is the best option.
Why weren't oil booms used when the oil spilled?
The Marine Pollution Response Service’s (MPRS) oil response equipment, particularly the containment booms, is primarily designed for inshore waters. MPRS has some equipment that can be used offshore, but only if conditions allow. The sea conditions immediately after Rena first ran aground were quite rough, so the response team wasn't able to deploy containment booms. These were used to corral some oil in the 5–10 tonne spill on 22–23 October.
Where did the spilled oil come from?
It is believed the oil came from the duct keel, the tunnel of pipework and other service equipment that runs the length of vessels. Rena's duct keel was extensively damaged.
Why aren’t containers being removed?
The focus of the response is on removing the oil from Rena, given the consequences of spillages. Attention will be given to container recovery once all the oil has been removed. Containers that have sunk and been located have been mapped for recovery. Those found floating are being recovered. About 30 are unaccounted for.
How long will the recovery take?
It is unknown how long the salvage and clean-up operation will take, but it is likely to be months. The focus is on removing oil from Rena and recovering spilled oil from wherever it is found. Birds – particularly little blue penguins and New Zealand dotterel – are unlikely to be released to their natural habitat for some time, to ensure they are not in danger of becoming oiled.
Who is liable for oil spill clean-up and container recovery costs?
The vessel owners and their insurers are liable for these costs, subject to some limitations set out in international conventions.
The following three National On Scene Commanders (NOSCs) are managing the Rena oil spill response on a rotating shift.
NOSCs are appointed by the Director of Maritime New Zealand under Section 319 of the Maritime Transport Act.
Note: Ian Niblock and Nick Quinn, who both did shifts as NOSCs earlier in the response, have now returned to Australia to attend to other work commitments.
Usual role: Harbourmaster for Marlborough, Master Mariner
Background in oil spill response: Alex has been involved with oil spill response since 1995. He is on the National Response Team, a group of around 60 specialists who lead New Zealand’s oil spill response capability.
Key oil spill response experience: Don Wong, around 400 tonnes of fuel spilled near Stewart Island, 1998; Sea Fresh, around 60 tonnes of diesel spilled near Chatham Islands, 2000; Jody F Millennium, ship grounding with around 25 tonnes of fuel spilled near Gisborne, 2002; Pasha Bulker, bulk carrier grounded in Newcastle, New South Wales, 2007.
Usual role: Training and Planning Manager, Maritime New Zealand’s Marine Pollution Response Service (MPRS)
Background in oil spill response: Rob has been involved with oil spill response since 2000. He is on the National Response Team, a group of around 60 specialists who lead New Zealand’s oil spill response capability.
Key oil spill response experience: Jody F Millennium, ship grounding with around 25 tonnes of fuel spilled near Gisborne, 2002; Tai Ping, ship grounded with no oil spilled near Bluff, 2002; Pacific Adventurer, container ship grounded on reef with 260 tonnes of oil spilled and 31 containers lost off Queensland, 2009; Montara well platform, well blowout and subsequent oil and gas leak in the Timor Sea, near Western Australia, 2009; Forum Samoa, vessel grounding in Apia Harbour, Samoa, 2010; Deepwater Horizon, well blowout and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010.
Usual role: Oil spill response coordinator, Auckland City Council Harbourmaster’s office
Background in oil spill response: Mick has been involved in oil response and maritime operations since 2004. He is also on the National Response Team, a group of around 60 specialists who lead New Zealand’s oil spill response capability.
Key oil spill response experience: Pasha Bulker, bulk carrier grounded in Newcastle, New South Wales, 2007; Deepwater Horizon, well blowout and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010; numerous Tier 2 or regional spills in Auckland.
The Response and Recovery Manager was appointed earlier this year to act as a coordinator of the different areas of response work underway in Tauranga. The role is Tauranga-based and ensures that the oil spill response and salvage operations are integrated and properly supported.
Usual role: Maritime Safety Inspector, Maritime New Zealand
Background: Dave began his maritime career as a deck hand on fishing vessels in 1986. For the next 18 years at sea he developed his qualifications, rising first to skipper on fishing trawlers, and then transferring to the merchant navy where he rose through the ranks to Ship’s Master [Captain] on board P&O passenger roll-on roll-off vessels
He holds a British Foreign Going Master Mariner Certificate of Competency and qualifications, inter alia, in nautical science HND, Lloyds diploma in international maritime investigation, NZ health and Safety qualifications, the carriage of dangerous goods, bridge management, and offshore oil and gas qualifications.
He joined MNZ in 2004, initially as a Maritime Investigator, and more recently taking on a role as a Maritime Safety Inspector, based in Lyttelton. Dave recently transferred to the Rena project as Tauranga Response and Recovery Manager. Dave has been involved with the Rena response since day one.
Dave has extensive experience at sea, working on fishing trawlers, tankers, cargo vessels, offshore oil and gas dynamic positioning vessels such as drill ships and cable laying vessels, and roll-on roll-off passenger vessels around the world.
He has also worked a lecturer in offshore oil and gas and maritime safety training at the Fleetwood Nautical Campus in the UK and spent 17 years as a volunteer lifeboat crewman with the UK Royal National Lifeboat Institute RNLI. During his time with the RNLI he was involved in numerous search and rescue incidents at sea.
The owner has engaged salvage company Svitzer Salvage to undertake salvage operations. Maritime New Zealand maintains oversight of the salvage operation. MNZ’s Salvage Unit Mangers are based in the ICC in Tauranga and work on rotation
Usual role: Manager International Shipping, Maritime New Zealand
Background: Kenny, recently appointed to the role of Manager International Shipping, first went to sea in 1985 as a cadet with P&O. Over the last 26 years he has held a range of diverse roles in the maritime industry.
He has extensive experience on container ships and has worked in a number of marine engineering roles, including that of Technical Superintendent with Crescent Ship Management and Chief Engineer Officer on several passenger ferries. He has also worked as a Surveyor, Country Manager & Managing Director for Germanischer Lloyd in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and was the Senior Marine Surveyor for the Government of Gibraltar.
Kenny has been at Maritime New Zealand since 2006 when he started as the Manager of the Safety and Environmental Audit Team.
Usual role: Manager Safety Management Systems, Maritime New Zealand
Background: Arthur has been involved in the maritime industry since joining as a Fifth Engineer in 1977. For the next 19 years he worked at sea in a number of roles on SOLAS ships, including oil tankers, bulk carriers and container ships.
Arthur has a degree in Engineering and a Directorate of Marine Engineering Certificate. He also has his Class I Marine Engineering qualification and has five years’ experience as Chief Engineer on SOLAS ships.
During his 15 years at Maritime New Zealand (formerly the Maritime Safety Authority) Arthur has undertaken ship inspections, safety management systems audits, accident investigations and has dealt with regulatory enforcement.
Who else is involved in the salvage/clean-up?
The oil spill response team includes staff from MNZ, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), regional and other local councils, Massey University, Police, the Fire Service, the Department of Conservation, iwi, the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team (NOWRT), Forest & Bird and Waikato University.
Local authorities from throughout the Bay of Plenty are playing a key role in the response.
Specialists from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Singapore and Holland are assisting.
How have the NZDF and Navy been involved?
NZDF involvement includes the provision of naval vessels and fixed-wing aircraft and associated personnel to support recovery and salvage operations, and the deployment of Army personnel to assist with beach clean-up operations.
The Navy has provided the vessels Manawanui, Rotoiti, Pukaki and Endeavour, and has been patrolling the exclusion zone set up around Rena. Seasprite and Iroquois helicopters are supporting MNZ with aerial observation flights and the transport of salvage experts to and from Rena. The helicopters are also assisting Department of Conservation personnel with their work, including airlifting cleaning equipment to Mōtītī Island and other locations. An Orion provides further aerial observation.
What is the timeframe for this operation?
At this stage it is unknown how long the salvage and clean-up operation will take, but it is expected to take some time. Our focus is on recovering oil from wherever we find it and we will go in day by day until this is over.
Where is Astrolabe Reef?
Astrolabe reef is about 4 nautical miles (7.4 kilometres) north of Motiti Island about 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometres) off the Tauranga coast.
Refer to the location information for detailed maps
The reef is well charted.
Is a resource consent needed to clean up the beach?
There are no such impediments to any clean-up activity in relation to Rena. MNZ or their agents are able to undertake any activities under Permitted Activity Rule 52 of the Regional Coastal Plan. Tauranga City Council has waived the access rights restricted under any bylaws it operates as well.
Who is liable for any damage caused as a result of the vessel?
The vessel owners and their insurers are liable for the costs, subject to some limitations that are set out in international conventions.
Will there be an investigation into this accident?
Yes, MNZ launched an investigation immediately after Rena grounded. This is ongoing, and all findings from the investigation will be made public once it is complete. TAIC (Transport Accident Investigation Commission) is also conducting a separate investigation.
MPRS Marine Pollution Response Service (part of MNZ)
MIRT Maritime Incident Response Team
MNZ Maritime New Zealand
NOSC National On Scene Commander
NOWRT National Oiled Wildlife Response Team
NRT National Response Team
NZDF New Zealand Defence Force
RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force
SCAT Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique
TAIC Transport Accident Investigation Commission
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