Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A dead fish is seen next to a chunk of fuel oil on the Mount Maunganui beach AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

New Zealand: Stricken ship's captain faces court

The captain of the cargo ship that spilled oil off the New Zealand coast has been charged over the incident – which has been described as the country’s biggest maritime environmental disaster.

THE CAPTAIN OF a cargo ship that has spilled hundreds of tons of oil since striking a reef off the New Zealand coast appeared in a court today to face criminal charges.

The 44-year-old Filipino, whose name has not been revealed publicly, was charged with operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk and was released on bail when he appeared in Tauranga District Court, near where his ship appeared to be breaking up in mountainous seas.

The Liberian-flagged Rena — which ran aground 5 October on the Astrolabe Reef, about 22 kilometres from Tauranga Harbour on New Zealand’s North Island — was showing obvious structural strain from the worsening conditions, with a vertical crack apparent Wednesday on the starboard side of its hull from the deck to the waterline. About 70 containers have fallen overboard as the 236-metre vessel has moved onto a steeper lean.

Maritime New Zealand, which is managing the emergency response, described the crack as a “substantial structural failure” and warned that the stern may break away. Three tug boats were mobilised to hold the stern on the reef, while further efforts were made to remove the oil, or to tow the stern to shallow water, the agency said in a statement.

Containers continue to move

The piles of containers that remain on deck have continued to move, making it dangerous for salvage crews to work on board. Six vessels have been mobilised to intercept the drifting containers and other debris in the water.

Maritime New Zealand commander Nick Quinn said his priority remained cleaning up the oil.

“Until now, we have had a light oiling of beaches,” he said. “This will significantly increase as more oil washes ashore over the coming days.”

The captain’s lawyer, Paul Mabey, requested that Judge Robert Wolff suppress his client’s name because, he said, “there is a real potential that some persons may want to take matters into their own hands,” the New Zealand Herald reported on its website. It also reported that the grounding happened on the captain’s birthday.

If convicted, the captain could face a fine of up to 10,000 New Zealand dollars (€5,670) and 12 months in prison. His next court appearance is 19 October, when authorities say more charges are likely.

The government has demanded to know why the ship crashed into the well-charted reef in calm weather, but the vessel’s owner has given no explanation.

New Zealand’s biggest maritime environmental disaster

Maritime New Zealand estimates that between 200 and 300 metric tons of heavy fuel oil have spilled from the hull, leading New Zealand’s environment minister, Nick Smith, to call it the country’s biggest maritime environmental disaster. Clumps of the oil have washed up on pristine beaches near Tauranga. Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman Anne Coughlan said that 200 oiled birds had been found dead and that another 41 were being cleaned at a wildlife emergency centre.

Witnesses said dead fish were also washing ashore as local volunteers with plastic gloves and buckets worked to clean the oily clots from the white sand.

Weather on the reef was terrible Wednesday, with swells up to 5 metres, Maritime New Zealand spokesman Steve Jones told The Associated Press. The brutal conditions were making it impossible for a salvage crew to board the ship, he said. Without the salvage crew aboard, oil cannot be pumped out of the ship.

“It’s appalling,” Jones said of the weather. “Everything is still in a holding pattern.”

Forecasters were predicting the swells would ease to 2 metres by Thursday, at which point salvage crews might be able to try to board the ship, Jones said.

There were 1,368 containers on board, 11 of which contained hazardous substances, the maritime agency said. The containers holding hazardous materials were not among the 70 that had fallen overboard, Jones said. Still, it is highly likely that more containers will topple off because of the rough weather and the ship’s steep list, he said.

In a statement, the owners of the vessel, Greece-based Costamare Inc., said they were “cooperating fully with local authorities” and were making every effort to “control and minimise the environmental consequences of this incident.” The company did not offer any explanation for the grounding.

Read: Oil spill spreads in New Zealand>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
4 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Needham
    Favourite Joan Needham
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:49 PM

    I let my 8yr old son take a day off school last year to spend it watching silage being cut. When I asked him what he was going to tell his teacher the next day, he told me he would tell him he spent the day doing work experience…I couldnt argue with that! I had to take the day off work as a paid holiday to sit with him watching the tractors going by. It was a great memory day for him and me.

    272
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Somers
    Favourite Paul Somers
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 12:11 AM

    Next time approach a farmer, fairly sure he will let you help, farmers go unnoticed by so many.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Donovan
    Favourite Matt Donovan
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:38 PM

    That’s the kind of Dad I want to be with my daughter.

    123
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Papasmurf
    Favourite Papasmurf
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:42 PM

    It would be really funny if it was convent with a mother superior type reading it.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Papasmurf
    Favourite Papasmurf
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:43 PM

    Matt, if it was Ireland the kid wouldn’t have made it in at all as they would have all headed back to the residents bar in the hotel for a tipple afterwards.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anne O'Hara
    Favourite Anne O'Hara
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:39 PM

    The Boss does a show that’s worth the money and more. Fair play to Dad :-)

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tmwtbc
    Favourite tmwtbc
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:48 PM

    Friend of mine, not a fan until then, went to see him in Dublin around 2010 (open to correction). Met him in a bar for a few pints afterwards and he was absolutely blown away.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nf
    Favourite nf
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:36 PM

    I wanna be that dad

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnneary
    Favourite Johnneary
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 11:39 PM

    Bruce Shillingsteal.
    The Caviar Denim Whingebag.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jamie McCormack
    Favourite Jamie McCormack
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:48 PM

    Been lucky enough to see the Boss play live, no-one does a show like him. Puts his heart and soul into every classic and is coolness personified. Isabelle will carry that buzz forever. Cool Dad.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Papasmurf
    Favourite Papasmurf
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:52 PM

    Willie Nelson is known to keep going too at gigs.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 11:35 PM

    I gave my son the day off after going to see u2 because he called me to ask could he go on to the after party, first told him he would have to go in to school in the morning, then called him back 5 mins later to let him know he didn’t! Thease are special memories for them, allow them to enjoy them. As they say you only live once!! :-)

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret donohoe
    Favourite margaret donohoe
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:47 PM

    Amazing dad fair play to him.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lad
    Favourite Lad
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:41 PM

    Letter to work sorted..

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom
    Favourite Tom
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 11:36 PM

    Smacks of over sharing, it would be nice if it was their own private experience rather than him claiming it publicly.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Guru
    Favourite The Guru
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 2:03 AM

    They’re American. They have no concept of over sharing.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 1:31 AM

    Agh Benny & Tom would you both lighten up! This is about a father & daughter having a great evening out & his daughter having/making a memory that will stay with her all her life! X

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Dunphy
    Favourite Jimmy Dunphy
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 12:02 AM

    There’s going to be a whole lot of 12 year olds at the next Bruce Springsteen concerts

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gerry meagher
    Favourite gerry meagher
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 1:45 AM

    Mine won’t go ‘dad rock’ ffs

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Benny Dorm
    Favourite Benny Dorm
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 10:56 PM

    Nothing spectacular.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gerry meagher
    Favourite gerry meagher
    Report
    Feb 10th 2016, 11:11 PM

    Greatest live act prices are a bit steep though although all acts seem to charge more here than rest of Europe citing extra costs logistics etc

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alpha_chaarlie
    Favourite alpha_chaarlie
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 10:18 AM

    Bruce Springsteen is a Langer

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek McEvoy
    Favourite Derek McEvoy
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 8:09 AM

    Thats class, the same man didnt even know about Brian Healys stag in Manchester next weekend. Strange or what. Imagine he knew about the water charges

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds