Final Update on the Rena - 9 January 2012

This is the final update tonight from Maritime New Zealand about the MV Rena response operation. It supplements the information provided at this afternoon’s press conference.

Salvage:
• Both sections of the Rena remain on the Astrolabe Reef.
• Sea conditions have prevented salvors from boarding either part of the vessel today.

Oil Spill Response:
• Oil spill responders have cleaned up oil on the Mount, the Main Beach and at Leisure Island today.
• Two vessels are being readied for on-water oil collection in the harbour if this is required
• Oil spill response will be mounted at Waihi Beach if oil comes ashore
• Teams from the Oiled Wildlife Response Unit have patrolled Matakana Island, the Main Beach from the Mount to Papamoa, and on Motiti Island today. No birds have been found on Matakana or Motiti Islands. Two oiled birds were collected on the Main Beach.
• Night patrols will continue tonight, checking for oiled wildlife
Containers
• Operations to collect debris from containers have continued at Waihi Beach all day.
• Twelve containers are known to have come ashore, at Waihi Beach, Bowentown Heads and on Matakana Island, and these will be removed as soon as conditions permit
• Oily debris washed ashore on the Main Beach at Tay St today, and has been removed.

NZ Defence Force
• Personnel from the NZ Defence Force are using the Navy’s mine countermeasure equipment to check the harbour channels for submerged containers on each incoming tide.

Iwi
• Iwi held a hui today with Transport Minister Hon Gerry Brownlee and Civil Defence Minister Hon Chris Tremaine.
Public meeting
• Maritime NZ will hold a meeting for Waihi residents tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Waihi Beach Community Centre on Waihi Beach Road, at 4pm.
• There will be two meetings for Tauranga and Western Bay residents on Thursday.

There will be a brief update at 7am, which will outline any developments overnight. A full media release is scheduled for mid morning.

The daily press conference will be held at the Tauranga Boys’ College Auditorium at 3pm.

The Maritime NZ media phones will be manned until 11pm tonight and again from 6am. Please phone 0800 645 774

Michele Poole
Maritime New Zealand Media Team

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