Four dead birds have been identified by patrol vessels near the oil slick from grounded cargo vessel Rena. An oiled wildlife response is being mobilised following reports of dead birds found in the water.
Images of the oil spill trailing behind the cargo vessel Rena.
Oiled Wildlife Response Coordinator Kerri Morgan, from Massey University, says the team has now activated its response plans.
The team had already mobilised equipment which arrived in Tauranga this afternoon.
An oiled wildlife response centre will be set up at the Tauranga Wastewater treatment plant.
A further base will be set up on Motiti Island. Kerri says around 20 responders were expected to be settled on the island tonight, ready to respond at first light tomorrow. The team on the island will include veterinarians.
A team of expert responders and ornithologists with experience in the capture and treatment of oiled birds would be undertaking beach searches on Motiti Island and the Maketu Peninsula tomorrow morning.
'We have specialist equipment and trained responders here ready to mount whatever response is required.
'We are working closely with representatives from the Department of Conservation here in Tauranga who are providing invaluable local knowledge and expertise.”
Further information on the wildlife response will be provided at the press conference at 3.30pm.
10 comments
So whats being done
Posted on 06-10-2011 14:47 | By jimmi
This has the makings of a economic and ecological disaster, and while the weather is so good, why isnt the cargo and fuel being down loaded? there should be barges going like the proverbial "man with balls on fire" ferrying it all to safety. What are the bueracrats having meetings?, why has not someone got the balls, to action something?, the weather will not stay like this for long, worry about the paperwork later. This could seriosly damage the Fishing Industry, and others, and with the KiwiFruit Industry also in trouble, the entire Bay will suffer. Please bloody do something.
Move it Move it Move it !!!
Posted on 06-10-2011 15:26 | By STRAITAS
Hang on jimmi if our council got anything to with it they need to form a committee then sub committee, Get the Consents into process then they need to wait to see who s got the GONNADS to say "go for it!! hurry and get this thing outta our BAY"
nothing big enough
Posted on 06-10-2011 15:30 | By Mr bay
I would guess that there is nothing big enough anywhere near by, that could off load the fuel or the containers. That one big arse ship out there.
Barges
Posted on 06-10-2011 15:31 | By tabatha
Containers need locking onto barges etc and Tauranga has not got a lot of barges. Also how do they lift off without disturbing the ship more. Fools rush in.
straw
Posted on 06-10-2011 17:28 | By straw
Maybe we could all do a community rescue as in Dunkirk.We have enouph boats in our harbours. It has for the Bay, similar importance.
i agree
Posted on 06-10-2011 18:08 | By Donnaw
Well said "jimmi"......its all very well monitoring the situation, but by them time they get their s**t together it's going to be too late, and it will be all of us that suffer.....hey at least the paperwork will be up todate i guess.....sometimes i think some of these "big wigs" arn't as smart as they're paid for.
Tabatha
Posted on 07-10-2011 05:29 | By jimmi
This is the 21st century, we are suppossed to have all these crisis management schemes in place, there are barges and cranes around the country to do the damn job, its not fools that rush in, it is fools who cannot see the woods for the trees, all that is required is for someone to make decisions, this ship will break in half, if something is not done yesterday, and while the bueracrats ponder, and drink coffee, it is the ocean that suffers, you can have all the risk management plans on paper that you want, but when it comes to action, there is no one with the skills(or cojones), to get the job done, make the calls NOW!!!!. or resign.
unloading
Posted on 07-10-2011 06:40 | By bengundry
.
volunteers
Posted on 07-10-2011 06:46 | By bengundry
to lighten the load enough to pull it off will be slow, 1 box at a time, onto barge. i think this is going to be a huge tragedy. can we sign up as volunteers anywhere?, in case(when) this turns for the worst.
A taste of things to come
Posted on 07-10-2011 06:48 | By IanM
This catastrophe is a good test of what we can expect in the future if oil drilling goes ahead off East Cape. Let us hope that there is transparency in the reporting on what was achieved and what the limitations were. Clearly, the response systems should be pumping oil out of this vessel NOW. If they are not, that suggests limitations on our response capability. The ship is already seriously damaged. Bad weather will likely cause it to break up. We are just lucky that the ship chose to hit the reef after the big storm of the night before. But that luck will run out soon enough.
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