Thursday, November 24, 2011
BAD weather has forced New Zealand salvors working to remove containers from the stricken Rena cargo ship to suspend their operation.
The salvage team halted offloading the containers yesterday afternoon and strong winds and rough seas have prevented them from resuming.
"The salvage team are keeping a very close eye on the Rena in light of today's rough weather conditions.
"While there has been no change in the integrity of the vessel, it remains in a fragile condition, and is at the mercy of the weather," Maritime New Zealand salvage unit manager Arthur Jobard said.
Northwest winds were gusting up to 25 knots where the Rena was grounded on Astrolabe Reef and were tipped to increase tomorrow and Saturday.
No one was on the Rena but sensors on board were keeping salvors, monitoring the ship from the support vessel Go Canopus, abreast of its condition.
Mr Jobard says divers reported no change in the structure of the Rena on Wednesday but there was a concern the conditions could affect it.
Salvors have removed 95 of the 1368 containers that were on the ship when it hit the reef on October 5.
One of the 88 containers thought to be lost overboard was found aboard in pieces. Parts of another container were also found among other container wreckage on Motiti Island, leaving 54 containers unaccounted for.
Beach cleaning was continuing and a larger oil spill response team was on alert if more oil was released from the Rena.
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The salvage team halted offloading the containers yesterday afternoon and strong winds and rough seas have prevented them from resuming.
"The salvage team are keeping a very close eye on the Rena in light of today's rough weather conditions.
"While there has been no change in the integrity of the vessel, it remains in a fragile condition, and is at the mercy of the weather," Maritime New Zealand salvage unit manager Arthur Jobard said.
Northwest winds were gusting up to 25 knots where the Rena was grounded on Astrolabe Reef and were tipped to increase tomorrow and Saturday.
No one was on the Rena but sensors on board were keeping salvors, monitoring the ship from the support vessel Go Canopus, abreast of its condition.
Mr Jobard says divers reported no change in the structure of the Rena on Wednesday but there was a concern the conditions could affect it.
Salvors have removed 95 of the 1368 containers that were on the ship when it hit the reef on October 5.
One of the 88 containers thought to be lost overboard was found aboard in pieces. Parts of another container were also found among other container wreckage on Motiti Island, leaving 54 containers unaccounted for.
Beach cleaning was continuing and a larger oil spill response team was on alert if more oil was released from the Rena.
Diamond stud
Read more
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