Rena Salvage Update

Press Release March 12, 2012

Rena Now: Photo credit LOC/NZ Government

Salvage of containership Rena, stranded off New Zealand continues apace

The New Zealand Maritime Authority reports:

The Smit Borneo has returned to the Rena wreck site and currently has 6 anchors secured in position.

Svitzer advise the tugs, Singapore, Go Canopus and Koraki are assisting. Two connections to the Rena are still to be made, and will hopefully be completed soon, subject to sea/swell conditions at the site.
The forecast is for swells to remain at 1.1m, with a total expected wave height of 2.5m, with winds from the north, turning to SE on Wednesday.

Weekend clean-up operations by the Braemar Howells team included dragging debris up above the high tide mark at the base of Mauao (Mt Maunganui). The intention is to remove the debris - found on the western side of Mauao – today.
A survey of Pukehina Beach was conducted over the weekend. While the beach was found to be clear, debris already gathered by locals will be collected by Braemar in the near future.
Clean-up operations at Motiti Island will resume shortly if an expected window of improved weather occurs. There, the retrieval of debris under the water and on the tide line at the northern part of the island will be continued. Debris is mainly plastic and container pieces.
Container numbers remain unchanged from Friday. A total of 573 have been retrieved from the wreck, and 72 from the sea or shore.
21 total containers located away from Rena, but yet to be recovered.