Question for our Kiwi friends

[metallion58]

It has totally fallen out of the news here.
What's happening with the cleanup of that ship that ran ashore?
Last I heard, they were starting to unload some of the containers but that's it. Nothing on the cleanup of the beaches or the effect on the inhabitants or the wildlife.
So, what are the latest news?

[Nicole]

They've released 50 penguins that have been all fixed up. And they've found more dangerous cargo on the ship. They're likely going to have to break up the ship. And lots more stories if you use this link: Rena crisis News | Stuff.co.nz

Unfortunately, most of what's making the news right now is the election.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Thanks for asking metallion, I live in Tauranga, the ship is 10km from our port. Here is a post that I posted on another forum I belong to just yesterday;

On Tuesday 49 of the over 300 little blue penguins that were rescued covered in oil after the container ship The Rena hit a reef off our coast back on Oct 5th, were released back into the ocean. The remainder will be released over the coming days once they pass health checks. With minimal chance of more oil slicks, all 1500 tonnes of oil has been successfully removed over the past weeks, there is residual oil but nothing like the thick sticky tar lumps that came ashore initially.

The salvors have now moved onto getting the containers off the ship; over 1400 of them including lots of refridgerated containers full of rotted food. They expect only to remove 5 or 6 a day but have managed to shift 100 in the past week. Once they get inside it will be a harder task. We have severe westerlies and a boiling sea these past few days. The Rena is likely to break up soon, it's hanging by a thread, only the internal welds on bulkheads are holding it together, the cracks around the hull are wide and completely open.

The beaches have been reopened and are in fantastic condition considering how desperate the situation was in the early days. The community, army and councils have come together to work wonders. Over 7000 local volunteers have helped remove the oil, some groups having to actually sift the sand a bucket at a time day after day and after each tide (and you've seen how long our beaches are!) It just shows what a community is capable of doing when it puts it's mind to it. We wanted our beaches back for the summer and we've got them!

Here's a clip of the penguin release, they are too cute!

2011-11-22 - 3NEWS - RENA OIL SPILL PENGUINS RELEASED AT MT MAUNGANUI - YouTube

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Today the winds have been very severe, no containers have been removed in the last 4 or 5 days. The ship is holding on by a thread and those in the know can't believe it hasn't broken up yet. A large tug is attached to the stern in case it starts to break apart. It overhangs the deep water(that's how fast it was going when it hit!) and will be(hopefully) pulled clear and into shallower water which will help in the salvage.

[metallion58]

I'm glad to have an update on the situation.
Also very glad that the cleanup went well an the long-term damages seems minimal. Plus, you get to enjoy your beaches for the summer.
Cute penguins BTW !

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Just in case you missed my photos from the initial days, here's my Flickr link;

Rena Oil Disaster - a set on Flickr

[metallion58]

Yes, I saw those.
It really wasn't looking too good at the time.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Metallion, also on Thursday 17 very rare NZ dotterels (57 were captured) were released back into their habitat. The remainder will also be released over the next few days. There are only 1500 of these birds left in NZ and the Bay of Plenty is one of their main breeding areas. The tiny flighty dotterels who can have heart attacks and die at the slightest fright were carefully captured to protect them after the oil began arriving in their estuary. They were at the start of the breeding season and it's now hoped they'll return to breeding( egg laying runs through until the end of January usually) and this seasons chick numbers won't be down too much.

It's also been reported that over 20,000 sea birds died during those first few days of the slick

[metallion58]

Originally Posted by FlyingKiwiGirl

It's also been reported that over 20,000 sea birds died during those first few days of the slick

Sad...
At least, you were able to do some damage control, however limited, and save some of that precious wildlife.

[DelCan]

I saw the news clip yesterday morning of the penguins being released back to the sea, but had no idea of the magnitude of what happened. Thanks for the news and the pics. It looks like it will be a while before things return to normal.