RSOE EDIS
Event Report
Event Description
| Description | |
 A hazardous substance aboard the stranded cargo ship Rena could give off highly flammable hydrogen gas if it comes into contact with water. The 236-metre cargo vessel struck the Astrolabe Reef, near Tauranga Harbour, around 2:20am yesterday. The Astrolabe Reef is about 4 nautical miles north of Motiti Island - about 12 nautical miles off the coast. A 2km oil slick has been confirmed as coming from the vessel. Maritime New Zealand spokesman James Sygrove this afternoon said the vessel was carrying four containers of the alloy ferrosilicon, a solid substance which was a potential fire risk. "If it comes into contact with water it gives off hydrogen gas, which is reasonably flammable. It would obviously need a spark to go up, but that's a risk we have to look into,'' he said. Mr Sygrove said so far the containers had been located on the ship and it was not yet known if they were at imminent risk. Investigators were assessing that. Ferrosilicon is used in industrial processes like steel deoxidation, alloy manufacture, and military production of hydrogen gas for balloons. Appropriate packaging was used to minimize the risk of contact with water. Meanwhile, an oil dispersant operation may be launched this afternoon. An aerial observation flight this morning identified the slick, which stretches from 1500 to 2000 meters from the vessel in a narrow ribbon. The Rena was carrying about 1700 tonnes of fuel oil and about 70 tonnes of marine diesel. An assessment team has now gone to the area in a vessel to conduct a closer analysis of the slick. The team will also conduct dispersant field tests to assess the potential effectiveness of a dispersant operation. If the tests are successful, the operation is likely to start today. National on-scene commander Rob Service said the on-water assessment would provide a clearer picture of what the oil spill response team was dealing with. A dispersant operation would be a viable option if it was found there was a significant amount of oil in the water. Dispersant works by diluting the oil in the water and assisting its natural breakdown. Mr Service said dispersant operations were only undertaken after careful consideration of the impact on the environment. About 25 members of the assessment team arrived in Tauranga yesterday, working with members of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and other environmental agencies. Supplies from the national oil spill response equipment stockpile arrived in Tauranga overnight and are ready for deployment. A wildlife response plan is also in action with specialist oiled wildlife wash and rehabilitation equipment mobilized and underway from Massey University. The equipment is due to arrive in Tauranga this afternoon, and a wildlife center will be set up. Mr Service said wildlife teams were on standby to join those already in Tauranga to assist with field monitoring and response if and when required. A Transport Accident Investigation Commission inquiry has been launched to find out how the ship became grounded on the reef at near-high tide. Spokesman Peter Northcote said the inquiry could take up to a year to complete, but interim reports or urgent safety recommendations could come sooner if needed. "This event, involving such a large ship and finding itself on a reef where it shouldn't have been, automatically qualifies itself for investigation,'' he said. Two investigators boarded the Rena this morning, including the commission's chief investigator, who was a maritime engineer and former mariner. Mr Northcote said they were securing data recorder information and conducting interviews with the ship's master and crew. "They're expected to remain on board certainly today, they may stay on board overnight and continue their on-board work tomorrow.'' Crews were usually cooperative and happy to talk, Mr Northcote said. Useful information would be gathered from the salvage operation, including divers' photography and an understanding of the state of the vessel on the reef. The salvage would not affect the investigators' work but could fall under the scope of the investigation, as would the environmental impact of the accident. |
   Vehicle Accident in New Zealand on Thursday, 06 October, 2011 at 03:06 (03:06 AM) UTC. |
| Base data | |
| EDIS Number: | VI-20111006-32565-NZL |
| Event type: | Vehicle Accident |
| Date/Time: | Thursday, 06 October, 2011 at 03:06 (03:06 AM) UTC |
| Last update: | --- |
| Cause of event: | |
| Damage level: | Severe |
| Geographic information | |
| Continent: | Australia & New-Zealand |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| County / State: | Coral Sea |
| Area: | Astrolabe Reef |
| City: | |
| Coordinate: | S 19° 49.000, E 165° 35.000 |
| Number of affected people / Humanities loss | |
| Foreign people: | Affected is unknown. |
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