Oil to be pumped from leaking container ship stuck on New Zealand reef
Environment • October 2011 • Views: 1,165
Marine crews were preparing Sunday for an operation to extract oil from a container ship that is stranded on a reef near New Zealand.
The 775-foot (236-metre) Liberia-flagged “Rena” struck the Astrolabe Reef about 12 nautical miles from Tauranga Harbour early Wednesday, and has been foundering there since. The ship has been leaking fuel, leading to fears it could cause an environmental disaster if it breaks up further.
Heavy swells and gale-force winds are forecast for the area from Monday.