AUCKLAND: The oil spill from the ship Rena has increased “several times over” as oil spews from the main fuel tank. Environment Minister, Nick Smith said, “The amount of oil that has been released over the last 24 hours is five fold what was released in the earlier period and that situation over the coming days from an environmental perspective is going to significantly worse.” Monday morning, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said between 130 and 350 tons of oil leaked out of the ship, previous estimates were between 20 and 30 tons. The oil is said to be heading south west towards Mt Maunganui. “One of the main tanks has been breached. It is very significant in the scheme of things,” said MNZ spokesperson. The pump used to remove oil from Rena has been taken away for repairs after incurring minor damage on Sunday. Its return is unknown. A mayday call has been made from the stranded ship. The evacuation of all crew and other parties has taken place. They will be returning onto the ship as conditions allow. MNZ spokesperson said, “The ship is not breaking up. Yes, a mayday call has gone out but that is just standard precautionary measure to get the crew off,” she said. MNZ reports Rena has moved overnight from eleven degree to a six degree list because the rock pinnacle it was on was crushed. Incident Controller Rob Service says oil has been reported on Mt Maunganui and Papamoa beaches. Service warned families not to visit the beaches. Health officials say the oil can cause skin irritation or rashes and the fumes can cause sickness. This warning comes after Sunday saw many families at the beaches where children were playing with the oil clumps left ashore. The continuation of bad weather has meant a delay in the rescue efforts. MNZ salvage manager Bruce Anderson reports forecasts indicate more settled weather within the next few days. BM
