Salvage

Good progress continues to be made on container salvage operations. However, this is slow, labour-intensive work that involves the cutting and grinding of containers and removal of the contents by hand. This means an average of 1 container and its contents are being removed per day.

The salvors current focus is on removing 14 formerly refrigerated containers above decks on the forward part of the vessel, as well as 4 containers containing wood. This work is estimated to take 2-3 weeks, but is dependent on weather conditions and safety. Four tonnes of scaffolding is being erected by stevedores to allow access to these containers.

All milk powder from containers has now been removed from Rena.

The McDermott heavy lift helicopter continues to remove remains of damaged containers.

Sensors on the forward part of Rena are detecting ongoing movement. Sensors have also now been installed on the aft section.

The forward part of the wreck is heaving and rolling, but currently remains fast on the reef.

Weather forecasts are currently good, with winds increasing to about 20kts in the afternoon and seas of 1.7m. Conditions for Saturday currently look favourable.

However, operations still remain extremely weather dependent

Containers

To date, 479 containers have been removed from Rena, with an additional 70 recovered from the water.

Braemar Howells will be heli-lifting more loads of stacked timber from Matakana Island today. About 70 lifts were carried out yesterday, with the helicopter transferring the timber to a barge waiting offshore to take it to the port.

The team is pleased to report also that remote Orokawa Bay, to the north of Waihi Beach, has been completely cleared. Timber, and a container that was part-submerged in the shallows, have all removed. The helicopter lifted 8 loads from Orokawa Bay.

A survey has also been carried out of the remaining debris on Motiti Island which is to be removed in coming days.

MNZ / Oil spill response

Shoreline Clean Up Assessment Teams (SCAT) are focusing on Matakana Island in response to reports of old, weathered oil.

Teams are also working at Mount Maunganui and Leisure Island, with an estimated week's worth of work left before the area can be signed off as clean.

SCAT surveys have been completed at the Northern end of Motiti Island. Work there will start the week after next.

Oil has been reported ashore at Cape Runaway, a team is checking this and assessing the level of work that maybe required.

No new oiled wildlife have been reported. Two penguins and 1 grey-faced petrel have been released today, with 6 penguins scheduled for release later next week. One bird is still in care.