Rena owner faces $600,000 fine
Maritime New Zealand has charged the owner of the stricken Rena containership, which foundered on a reef in October, with the discharge of harmful substances from ships, IFWreports.
The stern of the Rena sank in high seas this week, and more clean-up work is needed on the country’s east coast beaches as further debris is washed up.
The vessel broke in two in January after it grounded on the Astrolabe Reef on its way to Tauranga harbour in the Bay of Plenty.
Maritime New Zealand said it had charged Daina Shipping, a subsidiary of Greek shipping giant Costamare, under two sections of New Zealand’s Resource Management Act. The charge carries a maximum fine of NZ$600,000 (US$489,000) plus NZ$10,000 for every day the offence continues.
When the ship hit the reef, hundreds of tonnes of fuel oil and scores of containers went into the sea, sparking what was described as New Zealand’s worst ever environmental disaster.
A preliminary report by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission described how the Rena’s captain and navigating officer had deviated from the planned route several times as they tried to make a 3am deadline in port.
Their course took the ship much closer to the reef than recommended in navigational manuals.
In February, the captain and navigating officer, both from the Philppines, admitted mishandling the vessel and altering ship documents after the crash. They will be sentenced on 25 May.
The Rena was chartered by MSC.
Maritime New Zealand said today: “Salvors have observed further damage to the rear part of the forward section and the breaking-up of containers in the holds that are visible from the air.
“Weather conditions permitting, salvors plan to land a three-man team on the forward section of the vessel this afternoon to conduct a closer visual inspection.”
It added that there had been no reports of oil coming ashore in the Bay of Plenty or Coromandel, however, responders remain on standby and there will be ongoing spot checks of Coromandel and BOP beaches over the Easter holiday weekend.
The authority added that debris from the Rena was washing ashore at Tairua on the east coast of the North Island, and while there had been no new reports of oil coming ashore, there would be checks on beaches over the Easter weekend.
Boat skippers and vessel masters are warned to take extreme care as the debris from the wreck poses a significant risk to shipping, Maritime New Zealand said.
The stern of the Rena sank in high seas this week, and more clean-up work is needed on the country’s east coast beaches as further debris is washed up.
The vessel broke in two in January after it grounded on the Astrolabe Reef on its way to Tauranga harbour in the Bay of Plenty.
Maritime New Zealand said it had charged Daina Shipping, a subsidiary of Greek shipping giant Costamare, under two sections of New Zealand’s Resource Management Act. The charge carries a maximum fine of NZ$600,000 (US$489,000) plus NZ$10,000 for every day the offence continues.
When the ship hit the reef, hundreds of tonnes of fuel oil and scores of containers went into the sea, sparking what was described as New Zealand’s worst ever environmental disaster.
A preliminary report by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission described how the Rena’s captain and navigating officer had deviated from the planned route several times as they tried to make a 3am deadline in port.
Their course took the ship much closer to the reef than recommended in navigational manuals.
In February, the captain and navigating officer, both from the Philppines, admitted mishandling the vessel and altering ship documents after the crash. They will be sentenced on 25 May.
The Rena was chartered by MSC.
Maritime New Zealand said today: “Salvors have observed further damage to the rear part of the forward section and the breaking-up of containers in the holds that are visible from the air.
“Weather conditions permitting, salvors plan to land a three-man team on the forward section of the vessel this afternoon to conduct a closer visual inspection.”
It added that there had been no reports of oil coming ashore in the Bay of Plenty or Coromandel, however, responders remain on standby and there will be ongoing spot checks of Coromandel and BOP beaches over the Easter holiday weekend.
The authority added that debris from the Rena was washing ashore at Tairua on the east coast of the North Island, and while there had been no new reports of oil coming ashore, there would be checks on beaches over the Easter weekend.
Boat skippers and vessel masters are warned to take extreme care as the debris from the wreck poses a significant risk to shipping, Maritime New Zealand said.